The role of group psychotherapy and psychodrama in the treatment of depression

Abstract

Object: Psychodrama enables a formulation related with the factors causing depression while contributing to the patients to acquire insight and get well. With psychodrama group psychotherapy applications, the patients can benefit from the treating factors of group study as well as the specific technique and interventions of psychodrama. The objective in this study was to summarize the psychodrama psychotherapy application process on depression patients with antidepressant use and to discuss the points which are thought to contribute to recuperation. Methods: A total of 15 patients with mild-moderate level of depression participated in the study and 9 patients completed the group process. In addition to medications, a total of 16 sessions of group psychotherapy and psychodrama studies were applied on the patients with 3 hours of each per week. The severity of depression was assessed via Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17). Expectations of the patients from group therapy were asked during the first session and a common list was prepared using the recorded responses. It was evaluated in the final session whether these expectations have been met or not. Results: The initial HAM-D17 score average of the patients was determined as 13.33 (±2.39), whereas it was determined as 5.88 (±4.01) at the end of the treatment. A statistically significant decrease was determined in the severity of depressive symptoms after treatment (z=2.677, p=0.007, Wilcoxon test). The expectations of the patients from group psychotherapy and psychodrama were revised. It was determined at the end of the treatment that anger control of the patients increased, fears and irritability decreased, that they received support from the group and that they understood themselves better. Discussion: Our results lead us to think that psychodrama group psychotherapy contributes to recovery in depression treatment. Psychodrama has contributed to understanding which factors have played a role in the formation of depression and the changing of these factors realized by the patient as well. © 2017 ANP Publishing. All rights reserved.