Self-System Therapy (SST): A Theory-Based Psychotherapy for Depression.

Abstract

This article introduces Self‐System Therapy (SST), a brief, structured psychotherapy for the treatment of depression. SST conceptualizes depression as a failure of self‐regulation and is intended for individuals whose depression and/or premorbid functioning are characterized by particular problems in self‐regulation. This article provides an overview of SST, including its origins in basic and clinical research on self‐discrepancy theory and self‐regulation, the hypothesized etiological role of self‐regulation in depression, the primary components of the treatment, and comparisons of SST with other psycho‐therapies for depression. The general structure of a course of treatment with SST is outlined, and a case example is presented to illustrate the goals and strategies of each phase.

An increase in joy after two weeks is more specific of later antidepressant response than a decrease in sadness

“…Several evidence-based treatments for depression, including cognitive therapy (Beck et al, 1979), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (Piet and Hougaard, 2011), behavioral activation (Jacobson et al, 2001), acceptance and commitment therapy (Hayes et al, 1996), self-help interventions (Coote and MacLeod, 2012), and selfsystem therapy (Vieth et al, 2003) all address behaviors and emotions to increase the recognition, selection, and experience of positive situations or emotions.…”

Unmet expectations of adjustment and depressive symptoms among people with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury.

“…Those who are ambulatory may need education about potential complications that may make ambulation difficult in the future. If people are suffering from depression caused by unmet expectations, clinicians may consider some interventions designed to reduce self-discrepancy (e.g., self-system therapy; Vieth et al, 2003).…”

Regulatory Focus in a Demanding World

“…For promotion-focused individuals, failure is not only negative affectively, but is also a direct threat to eagerness, the strategic orientation that sustains or fits the promotion system. The threat that failure poses to eagerness may lead either to greater attempts to bolster eagerness in the face of failure or, when failures accumulate, may lead to the demotivation of the promotion system and depression ( Vieth et al, 2003). For prevention-focused individuals, failure is also affectively negative.…”