background About 10-15% of older adults have a mild to moderate depression. The presence of depressive symptoms is the most important risk factor for clinical depression. So there is a need for attractive, effective, low threshold interventions for older adults with depressive symptomatology. A new life-review intervention was developed and tested in a pilot study: the stories we live by.

methods A pilot study was conducted as a quasi-experiment in 2 parallel non-equivalent groups, a treatment group (n = 64) and a waiting list group (n = 43), with measurements at baseline, at 2 months (after the intervention). Only the intervention group received a follow-up at 5 months after baseline, in order to assess to what degree treatment effects were maintained over time.

results After the intervention the participants showed significantly less depressive symptoms and higher mastery, also in comparison with a waiting-list control group. The effects were maintained at a three months after completion of the intervention.

conclusion The treatment effects are promising but not very substantial yet, and must be improved by adapting the intervention. In the fall of 2008 a randomised controlled trial will be started in collaboration with mental health care institutes.