Psychotherapy May be Good for Individuals with Depressive Personality Traits?

A study says that psychotherapy may prove helpful for individuals with depressive personality traits to uplift mood and change general perception in life. The study is a part of the thesis made by a psychologist in Lund University in Sweden. The study focused on the question why some cases of depression do not respond to today’s treatments.

And while some depressed patients fare well, there are some that do not respond to antidepressants. Treatment is particularly troublesome to those who had depressive personality traits; even if they succeed in treatment, their negative perception in life makes it very likely for depressive episodes to reoccur.

 

What is depressive personality disorder anyway?

Depressive personality disorder described as having a mood dominated by unhappiness, low-self esteem, self-blaming and pessimism for the past two years. Because of these negative factors, the individual is prone to develop depression. Though not recognized as a diagnosis in the DSM, it is often observed by psychologists.

The study is focused on methods on how to help people with depressive personality conquer depression effectively. Treating them is a frustrating issue among medical providers. The numbers of people with depressive personality traits, according to previous studies, comprise as much as 13% of the population in U.S, Canada and Europe. Because they’re prone to mental depression, they comprise as much as 44% of visitors in the psychologists’ office.

 

Psychotherapy brings hope

Analysis shows that psychotherapy methods can help individuals with depressive personalities as much as those without it. Psychotherapy is a method wherein the patient discusses thoughts to a psychologist, with the aim of developing healthy coping skills for negative emotions. It helped ameliorate depression, and the depressive traits that was part of the personality.

However, the only problem with it is that it does not maintain effect for a long time. If the therapy stops and the psychologist is not there to help the client deal with depression, the use of healthy coping skills diminishes and depression is likely to have a comeback

 

But the effectivity of psychotherapy in dealing with depressive personality trait is impressive though. And someday, it could be used for susceptible individuals before major depression sets in. Larger studies are being planned.

 

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