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Leisure Activities Alleviate Depressive Symptoms in Nursing Home Residents With Very Mild or Mild Dementia

2012; Elsevier BV; Volume: 20; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/jgp.0b013e3182423988

1545-7214

Sheung‐Tak Cheng, Pizza Ka Yee Chow, Edwin C. S. Yu, Alfred Chan,

Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery

Objectives To examine whether leisure activities can alleviate depressive symptoms among nursing home residents with very mild to mild dementia. Methods A cluster-randomized open-label controlled design. Thirty-six residents with at least moderate depressive symptoms were randomized by home into three conditions—mahjong (a.k.a. mah-jongg), tai chi, and handicrafts (placebo). Activities were conducted three times weekly for 12 weeks. Outcome measure was Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) administered at baseline, posttreatment, and at 6 months. Results Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a group by time interaction on the GDS. Unlike control and tai chi participants whose scores remained relatively unchanged, the mahjong group reported a drop of 3.25 points (95% confidence interval: 1.00–5.50) on the GDS at posttreatment but gained back 2.83 points (95% confidence interval: 1.95–5.47) at 6 months. Activity discontinuation might be the reason for depression to return to baseline. Conclusions Mahjong can lower depressive symptoms in those with mild dementia, but activity maintenance may be essential for long-term effects. To examine whether leisure activities can alleviate depressive symptoms among nursing home residents with very mild to mild dementia. A cluster-randomized open-label controlled design. Thirty-six residents with at least moderate depressive symptoms were randomized by home into three conditions—mahjong (a.k.a. mah-jongg), tai chi, and handicrafts (placebo). Activities were conducted three times weekly for 12 weeks. Outcome measure was Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) administered at baseline, posttreatment, and at 6 months. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a group by time interaction on the GDS. Unlike control and tai chi participants whose scores remained relatively unchanged, the mahjong group reported a drop of 3.25 points (95% confidence interval: 1.00–5.50) on the GDS at posttreatment but gained back 2.83 points (95% confidence interval: 1.95–5.47) at 6 months. Activity discontinuation might be the reason for depression to return to baseline. Mahjong can lower depressive symptoms in those with mild dementia, but activity maintenance may be essential for long-term effects.