Dark Matter: Mental Space and Depression - a Pilot Investigation of an Experimental Psychotherapeutic Method Based on Mental Space Psychology to Reduce the Distress of Moderate Depression -
Journal Title: Journal of Experiential Psychotherapy - Year 2017, Vol 20, Issue 1
Abstract
Introduction: The introduction presents some statistic figures about depression, the perspective of the DSM model of depression, an overview regarding a new emerging paradigm, called “Mental Space Psychology” and its connection with a hypothesis regarding lowering symptoms of depression. Objectives: The main goal of this pilot study was to investigate the measurable effect of the experimental treatment method Depression in Awareness Space (DAS). Method: The practical suitability of the DAS method was tested with five clients in psychotherapeutic context; five other subjects did not follow a DAS intervention and constituted the control group (n=10). Preceding the pilot investigation, the clients were subjected to a so-called Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ, Dutch: 4DKL/Vier-dimensionale Klachtenlijst) in order to determine to what extent they experienced depressive feelings. Results: After four weeks, the five clients that followed the DAS methodology were re-examined with the 4DSQ and for four out of the five clients, their scores on the “Depression” scale significantly lowered. Also, their subjective feelings regarding depressive states were recorded, and they reported that they found a positive coping strategy for their problem. Conclusions: The success of this pilot study gives enough confidence to start a more ambitious project in using the Depression in Awareness Space (DAS) methodology for a larger study involving at least 100 subjects.
Authors and Affiliations
Christine Beenhakker, Alexandru Ioan Manea
Keywords
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