The effect of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) an emotional suppression and negative affect in patients with treatment-resistant depression: a single-subject study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Branch of Marand, Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran

Abstract

Emotional suppression and the experience of negative affect are the main problems of patients with treatment-resistant depression. In previous research, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) has been recognized as one of the effective methods in patients with treatment-resistant depression. However, the role of ISTDP in emotional suppression and negative affect is not clear in these patients. The present study aimed to explore the effectiveness of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy in the treatment of emotional suppression and negative affect using a single-subject study. Three patients with treatment-resistant depression diagnosis were selected by convenience sampling from psychotherapy clinics in Tabriz-Iran during a 3-month recruitment period in July 2019. In the next step, the participants underwent ten one-hour sessions of intensive short-term dynamic therapy. After each intervention process, the filled Weinberger Adjustment Inventory (WAI) and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). The results showed that intensive short-term dynamic therapy led to a reduction of negative affect and emotional suppression. Accordingly, it could be concluded that ISTDP is an effective method for ameliorating negative affect and emotional suppression in treatment-resistant depression.

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