Lloyd-Williams, M., Cobb, M., O'Connor, C., Dunn, L., & Shiels, C. (2012). A pilot randomised controlled trial to reduce suffering and emotional distress in patients with advanced cancer. Journal of Affective Disorders, 148(1), 141–145.
To determine if a focused narrative-interview intervention can alleviate symptoms of suffering, anxiety, and depression in patients with advanced cancer
Patients in a hospice day unit were randomized to one of two groups. In one, patients received the study intervention; in the other, usual care. The intervention was a single focused narrative interview in which a patient was encouraged to discuss his or her perspectives; sense of meaning; sense of suffering; and psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. The emphasis was on enabling each patient to tell his or her story. Study assessments were done at baseline and at two, four, and eight weeks after the intervention.
Randomized controlled trial
Baseline scores indicated, on average, probable depression. At four weeks investigators noted a slight, but nonsignificant improvement in the depression score. Authors noted no other changes or differences between groups.
As result of narrative interview intervention in a hospice day program, findings did not show any substantial improvement in measures of depression or other symptoms.
Findings do not suggest that narrative interview, used as an intervention for depression and other symptoms, had any effect in this study.