The Effect of Dignity Therapy on Hope in Patients with Major Depression Disorder

Abstract

<p><strong>INTRODUCTION:</strong> Despite the importance of the hope level increment in the patients with major depression disorder, fewer interventions have been applied to improve the hope level in the psychiatric patients, especially the depressed individuals.</p><p><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To identify the dignity therapy effect on the hope level in the patients with major depression disorder.</p><p><strong>METHOD:</strong> In this random controlled clinical trial, 58 patients with major depression disorder, who were hospitalized in Ibn-e-Sina psychiatric hospital of Mashhad, were separated into two intervention (28 individuals) and control (30 individuals) groups. The intervention group has taken the dignity therapy (based on the standard protocol in three 30-45 minutes sessions) and the control group have been undertaken the normal caregiving without intervention. The research tool was the Herth hope index, which was filled exactly before and after intervention. The data analysis has been done by SPSS 11.5 and exact Fischer tests, Chi square, independent t-test and paired t-test.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> 65.5 percent of the patients were female and 34.5 percent were male. Before the intervention, there was no significant statistical difference between the dignity therapy group (19.9±2.8) and the control group (20.5±1.6) in the average total hope score (p=0.39). However, the variations of the average total hope score before and after intervention between the dignity therapy group (4.7±2.9) and the control group (0.1±1.9) was significant (p<0.001).</p><p><strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> According to the dignity therapy effect on the hope level increment in patients with major depression disorder, this unique and short clinical trial can be employed to increase the hope level in the patients with depression disorder.</p>

Application of dignity therapy in an advanced cancer patient — wider therapeutic implications

“…On the other hand, previous studies reveal a significant mood enhancement and appreciably increased hope, even in the case of patients suffering from depression [11]. Authors of this case report could make an assumption of improving an emotional comfort to a patient with no apparent mood disorders and other emotional issues.…”

Dignity Therapy – Past, present and future journey: Beyond end of life cancer care. Responding to Grassi et al.

“…Some interesting, although initial evidence has been published about the use of DT beyond terminal illnesses, namely for people with mental disorders such as depressive and alcohol use disorders, loss of meaning and hopelessness. [9][10][11][12] The preliminary results of these studies are promising and indicate that DT can be of clinical use beyond the field of end of life care.…”

A comparison of Dignity Therapy narratives among people with severe mental illness and people with cancer

“…Only three DT case reports of patients with psychiatric disorders (e.g. schizoaffective disorder, 6 ) and a RCT involving fifty‐eight patients with major depression disorder are available 7 …”

“…schizoaffective disorder, 6 ) and a RCT involving fifty-eight patients with major depression disorder are available. 7 Within this background, the aim of this report was to conduct a qualitative analysis of dignity narratives emerging in DT in patients with SMI and to compare them with patients with cancer.…”