Positive Health Online

Abstract

APOSTOLO and KOLCABA,  Coimbra Nursing School, Research Unit Nursing Domain, UiCiSa_dE, Coimbra, Portugal. apostolo@esenfc.pt assessed the efficacy of a guided imagery intervention for decreasing depression, anxiety, and stress in psychiatric inpatients with depressive disorders.

Background

This article describes the efficacy of a guided imagery intervention for decreasing depression, anxiety, and stress and increasing comfort in psychiatric inpatients with depressive disorders.

Methodology

A quasi-experimental design sampled 60 short-term hospitalized depressive patients selected consecutively. The experimental group listened to a guided imagery compact disk once a day for 10 days. The Psychiatric Inpatients Comfort Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) were self-administered at two time points: prior to the intervention (T1) and 10 days later (T2). Comfort and DASS-21 were also assessed in the usual care group at T1 and T2.

Results

Repeated measures revealed that the treatment group had significantly improved comfort and decreased depression, anxiety, and stress over time.

Conclusion

References

Apostolo JL and Kolcaba K. The effects of guided imagery on comfort, depression, anxiety, and stress of psychiatric inpatients with depressive disorders. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 23(6): 403-11. Dec 2009.

Comment

This study indicated that guided imagery significantly improved comfort and decreased depression, anxiety and stress in patients with depression.