Efficacy of Quality of Life Therapy on Increasing Happiness in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Hossein Jenaabadi¹, Bahareh Azizi Nejad^2*, Ghazal Fatehrad³

¹Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.
²Department of Educational Science, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
³Department of Management and Economic, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpsych.2015.52025                

Abstract

Introduction: The present study sought to examine the effectiveness of quality of life therapy on increasing happiness among patients with major depression. Methods: The research followed an experimental research design with an experimental and a control group. To this end, among the statistical population of the study that consisted of all individuals with major depression disorder, 30 individuals were randomly selected and placed in two groups (experimental and control). The experimental group individually received an intervention with a trend based on quality of life improvement for 10 sessions. The control group received no such treatment. Beck’s Depression Inventory and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire were used in two occasions of pretest and posttest. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: The results revealed that quality of life therapy reduced depression and increased happiness among the subjects on the posttest (p < 0.01). Conclusion: This research found two important results. First, it was revealed that quality of life therapy had high efficiency in treating depression considered as a resistant disorder to treatment. Second, it was indicated that focus on happiness in the treatment of major depression disorder can significantly help patients recover.

Keywords

Quality of Life Therapy, Happiness, Depression

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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