The Effect of Drama Therapy in Mental Illness and Quality of Life among Older Adult : A Systematic Review
Background: Older adults in residential facilities suffer greater loneliness and social isolation. Therefore, depressive symptoms and low quality of life (QoL) are common among them. As a result of several disadvantages associated with pharmacological interventions for depression, the focus is shifting to non-pharmacological interventions. Drama therapy is one of these interventions, which entails activities like storytelling, improvisation, and role-playing.
Aim: to evaluate the effect of drama therapy on mental health and the quality of life of older people.
Method : A systematic review of the literature was performed. Studies published between 2018 and 2024 were searched on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar.
Result : Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three controlled clinical trials (CCTs) that ultimately met the qualifying requirements were included in the findings. According to a narrative synthesis, three studies with moderate methodological rigor demonstrated that, when compared to standard care, drama therapy and related therapeutic interventions that shared characteristics with drama therapy (such as life review therapy with a narrative component) had moderate to large effect sizes on lowering depressive symptoms. There was no discernible change in depression symptoms in one trial that included recollection therapy with elements of drama therapy. There were conflicting results regarding quality of life; two research found that drama therapy improved quality of life, while one found the opposite. Drama therapy has been shown to have a favorable impact on depression symptoms, but there is conflicting evidence about how it affects quality of life. Sample sizes should be increased in future studies, and participant and outcome assessor blinding should be addressed.
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