Existential Group Treatment for Older Adults (75+) With Psychological Distress in Primary Care

The existential group treatment follows a manualised structure focusing on aging-related challenges related to existential themes such as story of life, freedom, loneliness, and death. In order to support patients in finding new, productive ways of engaging in the existential process of aging literary texts, therapy practices and assignments between the sessions are used and each group will be accompanied by two therapists who facilitate the group climate, gently bring the group back on topic and help group members to see different ways of dealing with existential concerns related to aging.

"The supportive caller will provide empathetic basic support, equivalent to the telephone support provided within the Swedish non-governmental organization Mind's Äldrelinjen. No psychotherapeutic techniques will be applied and there will be no interventions beyond the phone call itself."