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Efficacy of dignity therapy for depression and anxiety in terminally-ill patients: early results of a randomized controlled trial

dc.contributor.authorJulião, M.
dc.contributor.authorBarbosa, A.
dc.contributor.authorOliveira, F.
dc.contributor.authorNunes, Baltazar
dc.contributor.authorVaz Carneiro, A.
dc.date.accessioned2013-05-24T16:20:47Z
dc.date.available2013-05-24T16:20:47Z
dc.date.issued2013-03-19
dc.description.abstractObjective: Dignity therapy (DT) is a short-term psychotherapy developed for patients living with a life-limiting illness. Our aim was to determine the influence of DT on symptoms of depression and anxiety in people with a life-threatening disease with high level of distress, referred to an inpatient palliative care unit. Method: This was an open-label randomized controlled trial. Sixty terminally ill patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: intervention group (DT+ standard palliative care [SPC]) or control group (SPC alone). The main outcomes were symptoms of depression and anxiety, measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, assessed at baseline, day 4, day 15, and day 30 of follow-up. Results: Of the 60 participants, 29 were randomized to DT and 31 to SPC. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. DT was associated with a significant decrease in depressive symptoms at day 4 and day 15 (mean = −4.46, 95% CI, −6.91–2.02, p = 0.001; mean= −3.96, 95% CI, −7.33 to −0.61; p = 0.022, respectively), but not at day 30 (mean = −3.33, 95% CI, −7.32–0.65, p = 0.097). DT was also associated with a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms at each follow-up (mean= −3.96, 95% CI, −6.66 to −1.25, p = 0.005; mean= −6.19, 95% CI, −10.49 to −1.88, p = 0.006; mean = −5.07, 95% CI, −10.22 to −0.09, p = 0.054, respectively). Significance of results: DT appears to have a short-term beneficial effect on the depression and anxiety symptoms that often accompany patients at the end of their lives. Future research with larger samples compared with other treatments is needed to better understand the potential benefits of this psychotherapy.por
dc.identifier.citationPalliat Support Care. 2013 Mar 19:1-10por
dc.identifier.issn1478-9515
dc.identifier.otherdoi.org/10.1017/S1478951512000892
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/1578
dc.language.isoengpor
dc.peerreviewedyespor
dc.publisherCambridge University Press (CUP)por
dc.relation.publisherversionhttp://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8859303por
dc.subjectDTpor
dc.subjectDepression and Anxiety Symptomspor
dc.subjectRandomized Controlled Trialpor
dc.subjectCuidados de Saúdepor
dc.titleEfficacy of dignity therapy for depression and anxiety in terminally-ill patients: early results of a randomized controlled trialpor
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.conferencePlaceCambridgepor
oaire.citation.titlePalliative and Supportive Carepor
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspor
rcaap.typearticlepor

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