Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to test some effects on pain, depression and ego integrity of the elderly by adapting group reminiscence therapy with mugwort fragrance to the elderly with chronic pain. METHOD: The research was executed from April 2001 through September 2001, and research participants were male and female olderly people randomly assigned from 3 environmentally similar day care centers. They were divided into experimental group A and B, and a control group; The control group was divided into a daily care group and a regularly visiting group, and the experimental group A was for group reminiscence therapy with mugwort fragrance inhalation and the group B for group reminiscence therapy. RESULT: The group reminiscence therapy with mugwort fragrance inhalation showed significant effects on decrease of pain and depression, and improvement of ego integrity, and for 2 weeks after the treatment proved its continuous effect. CONCLUSION: The result above explains the fact the mugwort fragrance stimulates reminiscence and shows curing effects. In further researches, it is necessary to adapt various health problems of the elderly, not only to the aged with chonic pain.

• Keywords: Reminiscence; Pain; Depression; Ego-integrity; fragrance inhalation