The Effectiveness of Allegorical-based Schema Therapy in the Treatment of Women with Symptoms of Dysthymia after Divorce: A case study

Schema therapy is one of the most effective psychotherapy techniques to control dysthymia. Nonetheless, Jeffery Young believed that instead of propositional abstract notions, complex concepts of this therapy could be facilitated by applying symbolic language such as allegory. Aimed at more effectiveness, the current study has combined these two techniques. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of allegorical-based schema therapy in the treatment of divorced women with dysthymia. The study employed a pretest, post-test, follow-up design and 6 divorced dysthymic women were selected by purposive sampling. Data analysis revealed that allegorical-based schema therapy had significantly reduced the symptoms of chronic depression and also early maladaptive schemas and it lasted two months after the treatment. Allegorical-based schema theory has been effective in modifying early maladaptive schemas, reducing symptoms of chronic depression and controlling the risk of relapse in dysthymic patients over time.