Milieu therapy for hospitalized patients with late-life anxiety and depression: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Milieu therapy (MT) is an important interprofessional part of therapy for persons with late-life anxiety and depression in psychogeriatric inpatient units. Research on how this is conducted is scarce.

Aim: To explore nurses’ and nurse assistants’ experience regarding MT interventions for persons with late-life anxiety and depression and how this is applied and conducted in the everyday life in a psychogeriatric inpatient unit.

Method: Four focus group interviews with nurses and nurse assistants were conducted. Systematic text condensation was used for analyzing and interpreting the data.

Results: MT was described as a dynamic and active process. Conscious individualized cooperation and communication day and night emerged as overarching theme, with following categories: 1. Collecting clues about the patient’s history, challenges and coping strategies. 2. Active use of these clues. 3. Active use of the ward setting as arena for staff to learn from each other, for patients to learn from other patients and as frame for MT in general. Strategies from both psychiatric and dementia care were used in MT interventions.

Conclusion: Results from this study describe content and complexity of MT strategies that can be supportive in everyday practice in psychogeriatric inpatient units and nursing homes, and have the potential to facilitate teaching, supervision and counseling of health professionals, caregivers and patients

Keywords:

• Anxiety
• depression
• psychogeriatric
• milieu therapy

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants from the psychogeriatric unit for sharing their experiences, the leader of the unit for facilitating the process and other colleagues for constructive comments and support. The study was funded by the Psychogeriatric research network – Telemark hospital trust and Vestfold hospital trust – (TeVe), Telemark Hospital and University of South-Eastern Norway.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Telemcark Hospital trust [grant number 81.62].

Notes on contributors

Marit Nåvik

Marit Nåvik, Occupational therapist, Master of Public Health is leader of the Psychogeriatric research network – Telemark Hospital Trust and Vestfold Hospital Trust (TeVe) and a coordinator in the Norwegian register of persons assessed for cognitive symptoms (NorCog).

Solveig Hauge

Solveig Hauge, RN, Professor Emerita, Department of Nursing and Health Science at University of South-Eastern Norway.

Ulrike Sagen

Ulrike Sagen, Senior Psychiatrist, PhD, working at Department of Psychiatry, psychogeriatric unit, Telemark Hospital, Skien, Norway.