Applied Research in Consulting

Identifying the Recovery Process of Depression Symptoms in Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP): A Single-Case Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad Ali Ameri 1
Abolfazl Sarlaki 2
Sajjad Khanjani 3

1 Naja Police Science and Social Studies Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

3 Research Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences in Police, Deputy Health, Aid and Police Treatment of Tehran Command, Iran.

Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the process of symptom improvement in patients with depression undergoing Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). The research employed a single-case experimental design with multiple baselines and follow-up assessments. The participants were conscripted soldiers diagnosed with major depressive disorder from a military unit in Isfahan, during spring 2024. Three participants were selected through purposive sampling and individually received the ISTDP protocol based on Davanloo’s (1995) method in 8 weekly 90-minute sessions. Assessment using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was conducted across 12 time points: 4 baselines (1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks before the initial session), 4 interventions (post sessions 2, 4, 6, and 8), and 4 follow-up stages (1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks post-treatment). Data analysis involved visual charting, percentage improvement, and Reliable Change Index (RCI) measures. Results indicated a downward trend in BDI-II scores beginning at intervention, with improvement sustained through one-month follow-up, supporting ISTDP as a viable treatment option for depression.

Keywords

Dynamic Psychotherapy
Depression
Single-case study

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