The impact of indivualized counseling with a woman diagnosed with major depression, 1996

The study examined different intervention approaches to treating Major Depression. The study was based on the premise that a combination of different approaches would be as or more effective than simply using one treatment approach.The purpose of this study was to utilize individualized counseling as a treatment approach to decrease depressive symptoms in a woman diagnosed with Major Depression. One standardized measure was administered, the Generalized Contentment Scale. The intervention period lasted five months and consisted of individualized counseling provided by the client's therapist. The client answered the questionnaire after each individual session. The results showed a minimal increase in general contentment within a five month intervention phase. The conclusion drawn from these findings suggests that factors other than individualized counseling should be considered as key elements in treating a patient with Major Depression. Those factors, both internal and external, include looking at the patient s social history and situation, family environment, cultural environment, physical health, social motivation and free will. This will help not only provide a more accurate diagnosis, but also a more effective intervention to cure targeted symptoms