Table 1.

The characteristics of the included studies based on the PICOSS model.

References	Participants (excluding the number of people lost to follow-up)	Intervention measure	Control measure	Outcome	Evidence environment	Instructor	Intervention technique	Intervention form
Wang et al. (2011)	Hefei, China, 82 empty-nesters in the community Age ≥ 60 42 participants in the intervention group, with 59.5% of women; 40 participants in the control group, with 55% of women No loss to follow-up rate.	Individual reminiscence therapy based on routine community care Once a week in a 45–60-min session, 8 weeks; specify the reminiscence topic.	Routine community care; community nurse visits home once a month to resolve existing health problems	GDS MUNSH (Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness)	Older adults in community; home	Trained community nurses with professional titles above nurse practitioner	The intervention staff meet once every 2 weeks to ensure the standardization of interventions and life review; test before and after 8 weeks.	Individual reminiscence therapy
Yue and Chen (2013)	Hangzhou, China; 80 patients with mild to moderate depressive symptoms; 62–80 years old, with an average age of 71.2 ± 15.4 40 participants in the intervention group, with 50% of women; 40 participants in the control group, with 55% of women No loss to follow-up rate.	Group reminiscence therapy based on routine care Once a week in a 40–50-min session, 6 weeks Specify the reminiscence topic.	Provide routine care and random health education	GDS LSI-A	Hospital	Trained, patient and responsible nursing staff	Combine with the actual situation to design a structured group reminiscence therapy; test before and after 6 weeks	Structured group reminiscence therapy
Cai (2018)	Changsha, China, 61 elderly patients with chronic diseases Age ≥ 60 31 participants in the intervention group and 30 participants in the control group.	Individual reminiscence therapy based on routine care Once a week in a 30–45-min session, 6 weeks Specify the reminiscence topic.	Routine care; taking drugs as prescribed by doctors; life, diet and psychological care; health education	GDS UCLA (Loneliness Scale, University of California at Los Angels)	The patient interview room in the hospital ward	1 trained head nurse and 5 charge nurses; specify the precautions	Set up a reminiscence topic on the basis of consulting patients and their family members with reference to relevant literature; life review; test before and after 6 weeks.	Individual reminiscence therapy
Wang et al. (2020)	Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China age ≥ 60 30 participants in the intervention group (11 males and 19 females) and 28 participants in the control group (10 males and 18 females).	Group reminiscence therapy based on routine care; Twice a week in a 40–60-min session with 6–9 people, 6 weeks Specify the reminiscence topic.	Routine nursing care for depression based on taking antidepressants	GDS, LSI-A	Hospital	2 systematically trained psychiatric clinical nurses specialists take turns to preside over the intervention	Determine the reminiscence topic by referring to relevant researches on reminiscence therapy at home and abroad, combined by the results of interviews with patients; test around 3 weeks	Group reminiscence therapy
Chiang et al. (2010)	Taipei, Taiwan Province, China Age ≥ 65 45 participants in the intervention group and 47 participants in the control group.	Once a week in a 90-min session, 8 weeks; specify the reminiscence topic.	Waiting list control	CES-D, SCL-90-R RULS-V3 MMSE	Nursing home the recreation room	A master's prepared student, A co-leader training consisted of 54 h of didactic training followed by the reminiscence group therapy manual.	3 months follow up	Group reminiscence therapy
Pot et al. (2010)	Netherlands Age > 50, with an average age of 64 83 participants in the intervention group, with a female ratio of 73.5%; 88 participants in the control group, with a female ratio of 71.6%.	Each session is centered on a topic related to the course of life, 12 sessions of 2 h each; specify the reminiscence topic.	20-min educational video supplied information about factors and skills	CES-D, HADS, MANSA, Mastery Scale RFS	Institute of mental health and addiction	Two mental health care professionals with a therapeutic background or a qualification in behavioral sciences or social work, a 2-day training program in advance and 1 day's training during the course	3 or 9 months follow up	Group life review prevention
Zhou et al. (2012)	Changsha, China Age > 65 59 participants in the intervention group (25 males and 41 females) and 66 participants in the control group (25 males and 34 females).	Group reminiscence therapy based on health education; once a week in a 90–120-min session, 6 weeks; weekly topics for group reminiscence therapy; specify the reminiscence topic.	Three health education Sessions: one every 2 weeks lasting 30–45 min each	GDS, The Chinese version of SES, The Chinese version of ABS, Analytic strategy	Community health service centers or neighborhoods	Trained community nurses	Group psychological therapy techniques; test before and after 6 weeks.	Group reminiscence therapy
Viguer et al. (2017)	The Dominican Republic Age ≥ 65 80 participants in the intervention group, with a female ratio of 56.3%; 80 participants in the control group, with a female ratio of 51.2%.	A 10-session intervention, the procedure was standardized with guidelines that included exercises and structured input and consisted of 10 weekly group sessions lasting 2 h each; specify the reminiscence topic.	Complete the same measures at the same time as the intervention group, but they will be not exposed to the training	GDS-30 LSI-A PWBS	Healthcare centers	A trained psychologist	Standardized with guidelines that included exercises and structured input; 3 months follow up	Group sessions
Hamzehzadeh et al. (2018)	Tearan, Iran Age ≥ 60 Female, 10 participants in the intervention group and 11 participants in the control group; no loss to follow-up rate.	8 sessions, 1 h per session and each week 2 sessions, 4 weeks in total; fail to specify the reminiscence topic.	Greeting and regular care	MMSE, GDS, LOT	Nursing home	Examiner	Use 8 intervention sessions focused on different topics and purposes; test before and after 1 month.	Group reminiscence therapy
Syed-Elias et al. (2020)	Malaysia Age ≥ 60 18 participants in the intervention group, with a female ratio of 50%; 16 participants in the control group, with a female ratio of 56%.	Once a week in a 60–90-min session, 6 weeks; specify the reminiscence topic	Attention control activities	UCLA, GAS, M-GDS-14	RACF	The facilitator who led the SRT session	The researcher has developed the detailed manual each week; finding the meaning of life; 3 months follow up	Group reminiscence therapy