Testing the Effectiveness of a psychotherapeutic method based on spatial cognition and imagination therapy to reduce the distress of moderate depression.

Depression is a mood disorder, in which the patient in general does not know
what causes it. Out of interest in the phenomena in mental space, appeared that
many depressed patients doe have areas of darkness in their mental space that,
they are aware off during the times they suffer from the depressed feelings.
These dark areas are easy to point out for them in the space around them. The
theory used in this research-project is, that, these areas of darkness are
associated with repressed very hard to cope with life issues: like loss of
identity, staus, loved ones, future dreams and health. Because of these
patients have tried to get these out of their minds, they cannot see these as
the reason of their depression. Other symptoms, like insomnia can be understood
neurofisiologically out of the process of repression.

Just over clinical experimentation a method arose, in which the areas of
darkness were the starting point. By having patients to move these areas to the
center of attention and have them lighting them up, access was acquited to the
repressed life-issues. From the moment the lacking coping capabilities that had
forced the patient to repress the issue, the therapy aims at the acquisition of
these coping capabilities and to still apply them backwards in time.

For this, a combination of therapeutic techniques is applied: submodalities,
change personal history and new behavior generator. These methods date from the
70s and 80s. The specific new element is found in the combination of these
steps.

To execute these methods properly, it takes well trained imagination
therapists: only people with enough hypnotherapeutic skills are suited for
this. These therapists are found over our existing networks. This is possible
because most members of the board of the Society for Mental Space Psychology
know many such experienced therapist, since they are parcticing psychotherapy
themselves for a extended period of time.

Regarding the goal of the Society for Mental Space Psychology: to help shift
the paradigm in psychology towards a more mental space oriented science, the
publication of research that supports this idea is fundamental. Besides that,
is the development of a treatment methods for moderate depression important for
society (since this is the most prevallent type of depression). This is the
goal of this research project. And also, the improvement of the therapeutic
method used will be an outcome of having this being used by a great variety of
experienced practitioners.

We aim at having 25 individual therapist to apply this treatment method for
moderate depression with for them normal clients in their own pactice
environment. They will do al pre-testing of the level of the intensity of the
symptoms of depression by a 10 points scale and the self rating questionaire,
The Beck Depression Inventory. They will follow a precisely described protocol.
Because of their experience they can do that.

After 30 (±2) days they will do a followup measurement by using the same 10
points scale and Depression Inventory.

For controling the effectiveness, we make use of a socalle *waitinglist
design*. Random selected clients will do an intake and are tested on the same
10 poinst scale and Depression Inventory. After that they wait 30 days before
they are given the same treatment as the other group.
30 days later, these will be evaluated with the same measuring tools.
We have chosen for this format, because it is closest to the reality of
psychotherapeutic practice. The simplicity is nescesary because of the
parctical need that therapist who are no scientist can do this in sufficient
manner. They need to deal with the administration and explain everything to
their clients.

Just over clinical experimentation a method arose, in which the areas of
darkness were the starting point. By having patients to move these areas to the
center of attention and have them lighting them up, access was acquited to the
repressed life-issues. From the moment the lacking coping capabilities that had
forced the patient to repress the issue, the therapy aims at the acquisition of
these coping capabilities and to still apply them backwards in time.
For this, a combination of therapeutic techniques is applied: submodalities,
change personal history and new behavior generator. These methods date from the
70s and 80s. The specific new element is found in the combination of these
steps.
To execute these methods properly, it takes well trained imagination
therapists: only people with enough hypnotherapeutic skills are suited for
this. These therapists are found over our existing networks. This is possible
because most members of the board of the Society for Mental Space Psychology
know many such experienced therapist, since they are parcticing psychotherapy
themselves for a extended period of time.

Clients suffering from depression often have suicidal thought and plans.
Frustrating psychotherapuetic treatment can increase that. We cannot yet proove
that Depression in Awareness Space is less frustrating than other treatment
methods. Clinical experience with this method points in that direction.Long
followups of clinical use is very promising. The therapists who will take part
in the study will be instructed to keep the communication with the clients
open. When they complain about an increase in symptoms, the therapists are
instructed to let go the protocol and continue only on behalf of the client.

In comparison with other available psychotherapeutic treatments for depression,
ACT, CBT, mindfullness, the time it costs the client is much less.
Including the filling out of the questionaires the treatment may take 2 to 3
hours (depending on the working style of the therapist and the creativity of
the client). The intervention is not aimed at the exploration of traumatic
experience nor the reexperience thereoff. Neither is there an element of
exposure-therapy. The client is moved towards te acquisition of new coping
skills, those that were missing and brought the client to give up trying to
resolve the difficult life issues that caused the depression.