Can a function-based therapy for spousally bereaved seniors accrue benefits in both functional and emotional domains?

Late-life spousal bereavement has detrimental effects in daily functioning and emotional distress. This study tested the hypothesis that a therapy based exclusively upon functioning issues (sleep and daily lifestyle regularity) would accrue benefits in both functional and emotional domains. A comparison was made with a control therapy that concentrated on emotional issues, and specifically avoided discussing sleep or lifestyle regularity. Thirty-eight spousally bereaved seniors were randomly assigned to either functional or control therapy. Assessments were made before, during, and after a 6-month, 10-session individual therapy. The functional therapy assisted in both functional and emotional domains and the hypothesis was confirmed.

Depression in the spousally bereaved elderly: correlations with subjective sleep measures.

Complaints of poor sleep and symptoms of depression are likely to coexist in the spousally bereaved elderly. This study was concerned with the correlation between depressive symptoms and various measures of subjectively reported sleep using questionnaire and diary instruments in 38 bereaved seniors (60y+). Correlations between the sleep measures and days since loss and grief intensity were also calculated. All sleep disruption measures correlated significantly with depression score, but only sleep duration correlated with grief intensity, and no sleep measure correlated with days since loss. Therapies which address both sleep and depression are likely to be of benefit to bereaved seniors.