Reducing depressive symptoms among facility residents: Pleasant Mood and Active Life intervention

Abstract

Objective : Development and evaluate an Pleasant Mood and Active Life (PMAL) intervention on reducing depressive symptoms among long-term care facility residents. Method : A cluster randomized clinical trial was executed among 62 residents from six facilities in Hong Kong. The inclusion criteria were 1) triggered mood problem based on clinical assessment; 2) cognitively intact; 3) voluntary participation. PMAL contains a two six-week stage intervention: stage one is led by professionals that aims to support participants to participate three pleasant activities on a weekly basis; stage two is self-initiated with the same activity pattern as that of stage one. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted by both clinical assessment and tailored standardized measures (e.g., Geriatric Depression Scale). Findings : as compared to control group participants, experimental group participants showed significant changes on mood problem trigger and GDS scores. Conclusion : PMAL was found to be effective and feasible in long-term care facilities.