TTĐA: Applying cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat a case of depression in an adult

INFORMATION ABOUT MASTER'S PROJECT

1. Student's full name:VU MANH DUC2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: November 29, 1995 4. Place of birth: Phuc Yen, Vinh Phuc

5. Student recognition decision No. 5626/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2023 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in training process: None.

7. Project title: Applying cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat a case of depression in an adult

8. Major: Clinical Psychology (applied orientation); Code: 8310402.

9. Scientific instructor:

- Dr. Vu Thy Cam, Head of Clinical Psychology Department, Institute of Mental Health, Bach Mai Hospital.

- Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thu Huong, Head of Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.

10. Summary of project results:

The project involved intervention in a case with moderate depression using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in 10 individual therapy sessions. The intervention focused on three main groups of goals: (1) identifying and correcting distorted cognitions, (2) strengthening skills in self-identifying emotions, communicating and setting personal boundaries, (3) developing a plan for maintenance and relapse prevention.

The results showed that the client's depressive symptoms significantly decreased (shown by the Beck scale score decreasing from moderate to mild, the DASS-21 score decreasing accordingly). The client improved his ability to perceive emotions, manage negative thoughts and perform adaptive behaviors, and formed the habit of self-monitoring and self-regulation in daily life.

In terms of expertise, the project contributes to demonstrating the practical effectiveness of CBT in the context of Vietnam, and at the same time draws some experiences in the process of applying the individual therapy model for adults with depressive disorders, thereby providing a reference basis for future clinical psychological research and practice.

11. Practical application:

The project has high application value in counseling and psychological therapy activities for adults with symptoms of depression at practice facilities, counseling centers, hospitals and psychological clinics.

The cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention process used in the project can be adapted and flexibly applied to cases of mild to moderate depression, as well as extended to clients with anxiety problems, low self-esteem, or difficulty in emotional regulation.

In addition, specific techniques such as emotion naming, cognitive restructuring, boundary setting, and relapse prevention planning can be used as training tools and clinical practice supervision for psychology students, or as reference guides in individual psychotherapy practice in Vietnam.

12. Further research directions:

In future studies, the sample size can be expanded to conduct quasi-experimental or experimental studies with a control group, thereby more clearly evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for different levels of depression.

In addition, it is necessary to consider the impact of cultural, family and social factors on the treatment process, in order to adjust the intervention content to better suit the psychological characteristics of Vietnamese people.

Integrative approaches, such as combining CBT with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or mindfulness therapy, are also potential research directions, contributing to diversifying therapeutic tools and improving intervention effectiveness in clinical psychological practice in Vietnam.

13. Published works related to the project: None.

INFORMATION ON PROJECT

1. Full name:VU MANH DUC2. Sex: Male

3. Date of birth: November 29, 1995 4. Place of birth: Phuc Yen, Vinh Phuc

5. Admission decision number: 5626/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2023, signed by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: None.

7. Official project title: Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of a Case with Depressive Symptoms in an Adult.

8. Major: Clinical Psychology (Applied Orientation); Code: 8310402.

9. Supervisors:

- Dr. Vu Thy Cam, Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Mental Health, Bach Mai Hospital.

- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thu Huong, Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology,Faculty of Psychology, VNU - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.

10. Summary of the findings of the project:

The project conducted an intervention for a client with moderate depressive symptoms using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) across ten individual sessions. The intervention focused on three main goals: (1) identifying and restructuring distorted cognitions, (2) enhancing emotional awareness, communication, and boundary-setting skills, and (3) developing a maintenance and relapse prevention plan.

The results showed a notable reduction in depressive symptoms, with the Beck score decreasing from a moderate to mild level and a corresponding improvement on the DASS-21 scale. The client improved in emotional recognition, managing negative thoughts, and adaptive behaviors, while developing self-monitoring and self-regulation habits in daily life.

The project demonstrates the effectiveness of CBT in the Vietnamese context and provides practical insights for applying individual therapy with adults experiencing.

11. Practical applicability:

The project has high practical value in counseling and psychotherapy for adults with depressive symptoms at practice centers, counseling units, hospitals, and psychological clinics.

The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention process applied in this project can be adapted and flexibly implemented for cases of mild to moderate depression, as well as for clients experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem, or emotional regulation difficulties.

Furthermore, specific techniques such as emotion labeling, cognitive restructuring, boundary setting, and relapse planning prevention can serve as tools for clinical training and supervision for psychology students, or as reference materials for individual psychotherapy practice in Vietnam.

12.Further research directions:

Future studies may expand the sample size to conduct quasi-experimental or controlled experimental research, thereby assessing more clearly the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) across different levels of depression.

It is also important to consider cultural, familial, and social factors involving the therapeutic process, in order to adapt intervention content to the psychological characteristics of Vietnamese clients.

Integrated approaches, such as combining CBT with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or Mindfulness-based techniques, represent promising directions to diversify therapeutic tools and enhance intervention effectiveness in clinical psychology practice in Vietnam.

13.Project -related publications: None