Effect of group reminiscence therapy on depression and perceived meaning of life of veterans diagnosed with dementia at veteran homes

ABSTRACT

Most senior veterans who live in veteran homes in Taiwan have few interpersonal relationships. Aging is often accompanied by solitude and illness, which causes senior veterans to doubt the meaning of life and to lose confidence in the value of life. This study tested the effectiveness of a group reminiscence therapy protocol on the depression and meaning of life among elderly institutionalized veterans. A quasi-experimental design was applied. A convenience sample of older adults was drawn from two veteran homes in southern Taiwan. Participants were assigned to intervention or control groups based on the veterans' homes they attended. The participants in the intervention group carried out group reminiscence therapy for 8 weeks in addition to their daily activities. The participants in the comparison group maintained their daily activities. Both groups were evaluated using the GDS-SF and MLS scale including two aspects of depression mood and meaning of life in weeks 1 and 8. The overall life satisfaction increased significantly over time for the intervention group compared to the comparison group from week 1 to week 8. The group reminiscence therapy programs showed promising effects in improving the depression and meaning of life of older veterans living in veteran homes.     

Resilience in Families with Children and Adult Members with Intellectual Disabilities: Tracing Elements of A Psycho‐Social Model

Aim This paper seeks to illumine how families with children and adult members with intellectual disabilities manage to manifest a buoyant and durable capacity over time. It is therefore concerned centrally with the idea of resilience. Method Drawing from diverse theoretical literatures from child development and protection and gerontology, the paper begins with a review of constructions of resilience. In an attempt to assess where there seems to be support for resilience in families, the core of the paper tests empirical evidence about positive experiences of families supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities against the theoretical literature on resilience. Result and Conclusions The findings are used to suggest conditions under which resilience is produced and maintained, and to identify emergent elements of a psycho‐social model of resilience in families with children and adult members with intellectual disabilities.     

The meaning of spirituality: a literature review

This paper presents a literature review in relation to the meaning of spirituality. It is proposed that meeting the spiritual needs of patients is a fundamental part of providing holistic nursing care, but that the assessment and meeting of those needs is impeded by inadequate definitions and conceptual frameworks. It should not be assumed that spirituality is either synonymous, or coterminous, with religion, and it is suggested that to adopt this restrictive view is unhelpful in the provision of individualized care. Reflection on the literature reveals that the self, others and 'God' provide the key elements within a definition of spirituality, and that other emerging themes namely meaning, hope, relatedness/connectedness, beliefs/belief systems and expressions of spirituality, can be articulated in the context of those three key elements. In particular, it is proposed that the nature of 'God' may take many forms and, essentially, is whatever an individual takes to be of highest value in his/her life. It is suggested that the themes emerging from the literature can be utilized as a framework to give practitioners and researchers a direction for future exploration of the concept of spirituality.     

《本草纲目》释名探析

目的 :研究李时珍《本草纲目》释名的方式方法 ,说明中药名称命名的原由和规律。方法 :从训诂学的角度分析《本草纲目》释名的方式方法。 (1)运用训诂学解释词义的方法。 (2 )引据训诂学专著。 (3)引用历代经史百家著作和医家著作。 (4 )揭示中药名称命名与人们对药物的认识和运用。结果 :通过对《本草纲目》释名方式的分析得知中药名称的命名与汉字字形、字义和药物的形、色、味、产地、功用等相关。     

Is romantic partner betrayal a form of traumatic experience? A qualitative study

According to a growing body of research, betrayal by a romantic partner is increasingly considered as a form of interpersonal trauma. Between 30% and 60% of betrayed individuals experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety to clinically meaningful levels. From a clinical perspective, this constellation of symptoms can be conceptualized as a stressor-related adjustment disorder. Yet, no qualitative research has examined the association between romantic betrayal and traumatic stress from the perspective of betrayed individuals. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants who had completed a clinical trial for a new treatment for adjustment disorder stemming from betrayal. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Although betrayal was experienced as a shocking and destabilizing event, and participants used trauma or ‘feeling traumatized’ as a metaphor to describe their experience, few had constructed their reaction as traumatic stress. In fact, participants reported experiencing difficulties understanding the intensity of their experience. However, when exposed to external sources (e.g., books and interviews by psychologists and researchers) that used a trauma and PTSD framework to explain the effects of betrayal, participants reported feeling clarity, validation and relief. Findings are discussed in the light of theoretical and clinical implications.     

Experience of spirituality, mental illness and occupation: A life-sustaining phenomenon

Background and Aim:  This article provides an overview of a phenomenological investigation of spirituality with six people who have experienced mental illness. The study aimed to gain a greater understanding of the phenomenon of spirituality and its relationships to occupation and the experience of mental illness.
Methods and Results:  Participants were interviewed and the interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Findings emerged through multiple readings and gradually constructed meanings from the data. Spirituality was found to be: unique to each participant, a journey through life, vitally important to participants, manifested as 'spiritual occupations', the foundation of meaningful doing, important socially as well as individually, and was found to support participants in coping with mental illness. This article focuses on the 'meta', integrative theme of spirituality as life sustaining. It concludes with the notion that spirituality is essential to the participants and is a significant aspect of their occupational behaviour.
Conclusion:  It is recommended that occupational therapists give themselves a 'licence' to discuss spirituality in practice and that they commit to learning more about how spirituality is a part of the lives of their clients.     

形与神俱,不可分离--从语义与语境的演变看中医翻译中的"常"与"变"

1文化差异对语义的影响丙戊新春将近,译友相聚沪上,谈华亭古今,说南北冷暖,论中西异同,道译事甘苦。正所谓“佳思忽来,书可下酒;侠情一往,云可赠人。”论辩之际,忽然记起《幼学琼林》“蜀犬吠日,比人所见甚稀;吴牛喘月,笑人畏惧过甚”之句,遂提议以“时近狗年”为题,各拟译论一篇,以贺新春。下面是我所拟之小文一段,节录于此,权作笑谈。“狗年将近,翻开辞海,除‘狗急跳墙’、‘狗胆包天’、‘狗仗人势’外,似无他辞可陈。狗性果然卑贱若此?实非其然!犬类古书谓之‘乌龙’,亦属龙科。盘古开天,翌日即为狗日,七日之后方为人日!其优劣贵贱,由此…