Actor-partner effects of wellbeing, hope and self-esteem on depression in stroke survivor-caregiver dyads: A randomized controlled trial.
Esther Ow Chow, Sai-Fu Fung, Hardev Singh
PMID 36453001WHAT IT FOUND
Narrative therapy groups lowered depression in stroke survivors more than standard psychoeducation did.
Survivors’ own wellbeing and self-esteem drove their mood, but their caregivers’ depression also tracked with how the survivor felt, so treating the pair as a unit matters.
Key findings
01Models including narrative therapy showed more positive effects on survivor-caregiver dyads than the control group.
02Higher personal wellbeing in the stroke survivor was linked to fewer depressive symptoms in the caregiver.
03Self-esteem in stroke survivors in the intervention group was significantly associated with lower depression.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study only included Chinese-Hong Kong dyads, so results may not apply to other cultures or ethnic groups. Any family member could be the caregiver, so the specific influence of spouses versus adult children was not separated. Narrative therapy requires specific training, which may limit how easily other services can replicate the intervention.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume narrative therapy works better because it was the only active ingredient. The control group also received eight weeks of structured psychoeducation, so the difference lies in the type of therapy, not just the presence of social interaction or staff attention.