Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
Within the South African context there seems to be no
workable manual-based therapy programme for the treatment
of Unipolar Major depression. The need for a workable
solution is steadily increasing. This was the aim of this
study; to develop a manual driven therapy programme for the
treatment of Unipolar Major Depression which is a short
term intervention influenced by the Cognitive Behaviourial
model, with the inclusion of exercise therapy.
The Cognitive Behaviourial model addresses the persons
negative cognitions in a structured manner, within the
framework of short term therapy. The person is encouraged
to become actively involved: helplessness, worthlessness,
and powerlessness, among others, are addressed. The
approach towards the General Therapy Programme has partly
a behaviourial component and partly a cognitive component
(Williams, 1992).
Past research (Kaplan, Saddock & Grebb, 1994) shows highly
successful results achieved by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
Exercise therapy also addresses the physiological workings
of the depressed person (Johnsgard, 1989). Short term
therapy is an immediate intervention which lays claim to a
higher level of therapeutic activities, along with the
identification of a clear focus and the creation of time
limitation.
There were 34 participants, selected randomly from a
population of 85 patients, at TARA, the H. Moross centrum,
general practitioners and psychiatrists. Only outpatients
were used. The measuring instruments used in this study,
were the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Millon's
Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II, and the Nowlis Mood
Adjective Checklist. The participants were randomly
divided into an experimental and control group. The
experimental group was subject to a short term Cognitive
Behaviourial Intervention, consisting of eight therapy
sessions with the goal of decreasing the intensity and
occurrence of Unipolar Major Depression.
The results of this study, shows an effective decrease in
intensity and occurrence of Unipolar Major Depression
after the intervention. The influence of the therapy
programme on other personality indexes has also become
apparent in this study. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
practised on a short term basis, was shown to be an
effective intervention, but the impact of other therapeutic
models cannot be ignored.