RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07371988

Efficacy of Narrative Therapy for Older People With Depression


Sponsor

City University of Hong Kong

Enrollment

110 participants

Start Date

Nov 10, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Summary

The research aims to investigate the efficacy of a narrative therapy group in reducing depressive symptoms among older people. This study adopts a mixed methods research design, involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches. In the quantitative study, a randomised controlled trial will compare a narrative therapy group with a waitlist control group to determine whether an eight-session narrative therapy group can reduce depressive symptoms in older people. The eight-session narrative therapy group will be delivered by a trained and experienced social worker or counsellor, and intervention outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention using a standardised assessment tool for depressive symptoms. The qualitative study aims to examine the benefits, advantages, and limitations of the narrative therapy group from the users' perspective.


Eligibility

Min Age: 60 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is testing whether narrative therapy — a talking therapy that helps people reframe and retell their life stories — can reduce depression in older adults aged 60 and above. **You may be eligible if...** - You are 60 years or older - You have depressive symptoms with a score between 10 and 30 on the Chinese Beck Depression Inventory-II (mild to moderate depression) - You are a service user of an elderly centre - You are willing to give informed consent to participate **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have severe depression (score of 31 or higher on the assessment tool) - You have dementia, psychosis, or have reported thoughts of suicide Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALNarrative therapy group

Narrative therapy group consists of 8 sessions, with one session will be conducted per week, with each session lasting for about 90 minutes. A social worker and a counsellor will be recruited to run narrative groups at collaborative elderly centres. The narrative therapy group provides the following intervention strategies: engagement, de-construction, re-construction, and co-construction of personal identities. A standardized program manual of this narrative group will be developed by the research team. The social workers delivering the narrative therapy group in this project will receive the program manuals, training and supervision from the project team and an experienced clinical psychologist to ensure that the intervention groups follow the program manual.

OTHERTreatment as usual (TAU)

Waitlist control group will receive will receive treatment as usual provided by the elderly centre, including recreational activities and interest classes, at the initial stage and will receive a brief narrative therapy program at a later stage


Locations(1)

City University of Hong Kong

Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

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NCT07371988


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