Systemic Couple Therapy of Depression: A single case study

Abstract

In this case study, the treatment of a woman with the diagnosis of major depression using systemic couple therapy is presented. In this kind of therapy the partner is included in the all the treatment sessions working in a conjoint format. As therapy progresses, the relational meanings of the symptoms are made explicit, some relationship difficulties emerge, and joint work is made to find solutions. This therapy was completed after 11 mostly two-weekly sessions, and the results at the post-therapy assessment showed a substantial decrease in her depressive symptoms (measured with BDI-II) as compared to pre-therapy assessment. Also, in the structured diagnostic post-therapy interview she did not fulfil anymore the criteria for major depression. For the couple, both perceived their relationship as more harmonious (according to their scores on the DAS). Within the characteristic limitations of a single case study design, this work illustrates the potentials of systemic couple therapy for the treatment of depression.

CITE AS:

Feixas i Viaplana, G., Muñoz Cano, D., Dada Sánchez, G., Compañ Felipe, V. & Arroyo Andreu, S. (2009). Terapia sistémica de pareja de la depresión. Un estudio de caso único. Apuntes de Psicología, 27, 273-287.