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A self-administered, mild form of exposure therapy for older adults
- Authors:
- BOALS Adriel, BANKS Jonathan B., HAYSLIP Bert
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 16(1-2), January 2012, pp.154-161.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Mild forms of exposure therapy, such as completing memory questionnaires about a stressful event, have been shown to reduce distress in younger adults. This study attempted to examine the impact of the Autobiographical Memory Questionnaire (AMQ) in an older adult population. The AMQ is a 28-item questionnaire that requires the respondent to reinstate the memory and consider the sensory, narrative and emotional properties of the memory. A community-living sample of 263 older adults was asked to nominate a stressful event from their lives. They were randomly assigned to either complete the AMQ concerning their memory of the stressful event, or a control task. After 2 weeks the participants completed several follow-up measures. The results indicated that those who had completed the AWQ evidenced lower levels of distress 2 weeks later about the nominated stressful event. This effect was stronger for events that were either more recent or had elevated initial levels of distress. These findings suggest an alternative treatment for older adults who have experienced a stressful or traumatic event which may be particularly useful for those who are unable or unwilling to enter therapy.