The Effectiveness of Structured Reminiscence on Anxiety and Depression in the Elderly

Anxiety and depression are the most common psychological disorders in old age. Reminiscence is a part of the normal life cycle in elderly that prepares them to face death, resolve past conflicts, gain existential integrity, and find the importance of positive life and self-esteem. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of structured group memory on reducing anxiety and depression in the elderly in Maragheh. It was a semi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design and control group. The statistical population of the study included all retirees of Maragheh Retirement Center who experienced anxiety and depression disorder. Participants included 46 elderly men (95-65 years) selected through convenience sampling according to inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups (n=23). The experimental group received structured reminiscence sessions for eight sessions of 60 to 90 minutes once a week, but the control group did not receive any intervention. Participants responded to the Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. The data were analyzed by one-way covariance analyses using SPSS 23 software. The results showed that structured memory significantly reduced anxiety and depression in the experimental group. Therefore, it is recommended that reminiscence training be used to reduce anxiety and depression in the elderly.