THE PROCESS AND OUTCOME OF LIFE REVIEW PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH DEPRESSED HOMEBOUND OLDER ADULTS

The purpose of the study was to examine the process and outcomes of li fe review therapy provided by an advanced practice geropsychiatric nur se to older adults discharged from psychiatric hospitals to home healt h care. Eighty older adults over 65 years of age with a primary diagno sis of depression were treated at home for life review psychotherapy s essions (M = 13.24, SD = 8.65). Content analysis methods, both latent and manifest, were used to analyze the data and identify themes. Theme s were classified as empowerment (connection, coping, efficacy, hope, and trust) or disempowerment (denial, despair, helpless, isolation, lo neliness, and loss). Findings showed that, as a result of the life rev iew therapy, there was a significant decrease (p<.0001) in total disem powerment themes (M-1 = 13.07;M-2 = 9.14).