The effect of religious-ontological-based intervention on clinical symptoms and existential thinking of students with depressive disorder: a multiple baseline case study

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of religious-ontological-based intervention on clinical symptoms and existential thinking of students with depressive disorder.

This research was carried out in the framework of a single-case experimental study with three students with symotomos of depression who were selected through purposeful sampling from the students of Ardakan University (Yazd, Iran) during the academic year of 2022-2023. Each individual participant received 8 sessions of intervention based on religious ontology, twice during the baseline phase, three times during the treatment phase, and twice during the follow-up phase. Beck depression questionnaire (1996) and Allen and Scherer's scale of existential thinking (2012) were utilized as measurement instruments. To analyze the data, graphical analysis method was used to determine the recovery percentage and reliable change index.

The findings showed significant clinically and statistical improvements in the existential thinking and decreased depression after treatment (p<.01). After two months, a follow-up was done where differences were maintained, which indicates the sustainability of the therapeutic effects.

Regarding the results, it can be concluded that religious-ontological-based intervention can be used to increase the existential thinking and to reduce depression in the students with depressive disorder. Considering that Iranian society has a coherent religious context and religion has a special status in people's lives, this intervention can be effective in reducing depression symptoms.