Development and validation of individual systemic psychotherapy protocol to ego depletion in individuals with depression

Depression is a significant, growing and prevalent issue, one of the chronic disorders and the leading cause of disability worldwide.

The present study aimed to develop a psychological intervention protocol based on systemic theory in depressed individuals.

The research method was qualitative content analysis, and the statistical population included various data sources related to the present concepts and therapies in the field of systemic theory, such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct and …, within 1998 to 2020. The extracted data from these sources were analyzed; an individual systemic psychotherapy protocol was developed based on the obtained results. Then, the content validity of the protocol was determined using the opinions of eight experts in the field of clinical psychology. Sampling in this study was purposeful. The research tool included the written evidence and documents searched in the aforementioned databases, and the data analysis method was Sterling’s content analysis.

Therapeutic communication, questions, statements, guidelines, problem identification, problem sequence, types of constraints, and decision matrix, including planning frameworks at different levels, feedback, and feedforward, formed the primary themes of the individual systemic psychotherapy. The content of psychotherapy protocol sessions was adjusted based on the obtained components in 12 weekly sessions.

The individual systemic psychotherapy protocol is a comprehensive psychological treatment that includes multiple factors affecting the individual’s system and is valid and efficient. It is recommended to use this protocol for individuals with depression.