Nostalgia Bits (NOBITS)

NCT02077153 | Completed DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 03A901AAL-2009-2-131
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Reminiscence group therapy is a brief and structured intervention that has been shown to be effective for improving well-being among older adults. Reminiscence helps accepting the ageing process by solving unresolved issues and past losses; the group setting empowers the efficacy of the process by giving back to elderly a way to manage their skills in a wider setting and interact with other people. The sharing of memories reinforces the identity through active tasks, preparing individuals to cope with the final part of the life. However, considering reminiscence interventions for older populations, controlled trials adopting better inclusion/exclusion criteria, standardized measures, and different conditions for comparing the effect are needed. According to this premise, the trial presents the design of a randomized controlled aimed at comparing group reminiscence therapy with a group recreational activity in a older population. It includes two groups of approximately 20 hospitalized elderly: (1) the Experimental Group, (2) the Control Group. Participants included in the Experimental Group will receive a group reminiscence therapy of six sessions, while the Control Group will participate in a recreational group discussion. Between design with repeated measures will be used to evaluate changes in self-reported outcome measures of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, life satisfaction, quality of life across baseline, post-intervention and three months post-intervention. What the investigators would like to show with the present trial is the efficacy of a group reminiscence intervention in a hospitalized population of older adults: focusing on specific past events and re-living them in a group environment may enhance the self-esteem and quality of life better than a simple group discussion.

Conditions

Reminiscence Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Evidence of reminiscence effect on psychological well-being

  6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Reminiscence function

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Group Reminescence

EXPERIMENTAL

In the experimental condition, everything begins ensuring the participants that all the memories shared will not be spread out of the group. Every session will deal with a theme, recalling specific autobiographic experiences; they will be suggested following a chronological order. Participants are encouraged to bring photos or objects related to past themes: at the end of each meeting the theme of the following is revealed. The researchers can also bring materials as cues for reminiscence.

Behavioral: Reminiscence therapy

Group discussion

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

In the control condition, every meeting will offer topics for discussion taken from newspaper and newscasts: personal opinions are promoted, and links with the daily life of participants are welcome (everyday activities, personal preferences). The main goal is to stimulate the social interaction and the communication, without dealing with personal events from the past nor private memories.

Behavioral: Active participation in group setting

Interventions

Reminiscence therapy BEHAVIORAL

Group Reminescence

Active participation in group setting BEHAVIORAL

Group discussion

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years of age, or older.
• Hospitalized elderly

You may not qualify if:

• Major depressive symptoms, as indicated by a minimum score of 17 on GDS.
• Cognitive impairment, as indicated by a maximum score of 21 of MMSE that corresponds to mild dementia.
• Currently receiving any other psychological treatment for improving wellbeing.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istituto Auxologico Italiano: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istituto Auxologico Italiano

Milan, MI, 20100, Italy

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Gaggioli A, Scaratti C, Morganti L, Stramba-Badiale M, Agostoni M, Spatola CA, Molinari E, Cipresso P, Riva G. Effectiveness of group reminiscence for improving wellbeing of institutionalized elderly adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Oct 25;15:408. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-408.

  PMID: 25344703 DERIVED

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Scientific coordinator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 31, 2014
• First Posted: March 4, 2014
• Study Start: October 1, 2012
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2014
• Study Completion: June 1, 2014
• Last Updated: August 29, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-08

Locations

IT (1)