TTĐA: Psychological intervention for an adult with typical depression symptoms

INFORMATION ABOUT MASTER'S PROJECT

1. Student's full name: Nguyen Thanh Van 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: January 27, 1987

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision on recognition of students No. 3732/QD-XHNV dated December 9, 2022 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in the training process:

Extending the study period by 6 months (Decision No. 6935/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2024 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi to June 28, 2025).

7. Project title: Psychological intervention for an adult with typical depression symptoms.

8. Major: Clinical Psychology (applied orientation)

Code: 8310402

9. Scientific advisor: Dr. Nguyen Ba Dat

Working unit at FacultyHeartPhysics, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

10. Summary of project results:

The project has synthesized and systematized concepts and definitions related to typical depressive disorder according to the DSM-5 classification system (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition). In Chapter 1, the project has described an overview of depression including epidemiological studies on the status, characteristics, effects and causes of depressive disorder in adults. The project focuses on building a theoretical basis for CBT, analyzing the mechanisms of this therapy's impact on the cognitive and behavioral processes of people with depression, and at the same time pointing out the positive effects of CBT in improving symptoms, enhancing psychological function and supporting the recovery process in adults with typical depression.

Chapter 2 of the project describes a psychological intervention process using CBT for an adult with typical depression. The intervention results show that the client has progressed in terms of emotions, cognition, and behavior. In terms of functional activities, the client has improved such as regular exercise, open communication with family and friends, finding a job and returning to stable employment. The client's emotions after the intervention show positive improvements as well as developing stress management skills and helping the client to accept and be positive with himself and the world around him. The positive changes in the client reflect the suitability of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in the intervention of depressive disorders. This is also consistent with previous research results. The intervention results showed that CBT not only helps alleviate depressive symptoms but also contributes to adjusting distorted cognitions and inappropriate behaviors, thereby actively supporting the client's psychological recovery process.

11. Practical application:

Currently, social problems are increasing significantly, such as: unemployment due to mergers and streamlining of the apparatus (120,500 jobs); technological development (mobile phones, social networks) leading to a lack of connection between people, increasing feelings of loneliness and deadlock; cyber violence; the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) causing humans to gradually be replaced in many fields... These social problems, in addition to economic impacts, also entail many mental consequences. An overview of recent research documents shows that the incidence of mental health problems is increasing, not only in Vietnam but also globally. However, at present, in-depth studies on depressive disorders in Vietnam are still limited in both quantity and quality, which poses an urgent need for more systematic research investment in this field. In this context, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective psychological intervention in the treatment of depression. CBT not only helps to correct maladaptive thoughts and teach problem-solving skills, but also contributes to building positive beliefs and values, enhancing the ability to cope with stress and improving social relationships in people experiencing psychological difficulties related to depression.

12. Further research directions: None

13. Published works related to the project: None

INFORMATION ON THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Thanh Van

2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: January 27, 1987

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 3732/QD-XHNV Dated : December 9^th, 2022 from the Principal of the Univercity of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
6. Changes in academic process:

Extended the study period by 6 months (Decision to extend the study period of graduate students No. 6935/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2024 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi to date June 28, 2025.

7. Official project title: Psychological intervention for an adult exhibiting symptoms of major depression

8. Major: Clinical Psychological 9. Code: 8310402

10. Supervisors: Dr. Nguyen Ba Dat

Faculty of Psychology Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

11. Summary of thesis findings:

The thesis synthesizes and systematizes concepts and definitions related to major depressive disorder based on the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition). Chapter 1 provides an overview of depression, including epidemiological studies on its prevalence, characteristics, impact, and causes among adults. The thesis focuses on building the theoretical foundation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), analyzing the mechanisms through which CBT affects the cognition and behavior of individuals with depression, and highlighting the positive outcomes of CBT in symptom reduction, psychological functioning improvement, and recovery support for adults with major depression.

Chapter 2 presents a case study of a psychological intervention using CBT for an adult showing major depressive symptoms. The intervention results showed the client made progress in emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects. Functional improvements included regular physical exercise, more open communication with family and friends, job seeking, and stable employment. Post-intervention emotional states improved, and the client developed better stress management skills and a more accepting and positive attitude toward herself and the surrounding world. These positive changes reflect the suitability of CBT for intervening in depressive disorders and were consistent with findings from previous researches. The results indicate that CBT not only alleviated depressive symptoms but also helped correct distorted cognitions and maladaptive behaviors, thereby supporting the client's psychological recovery.

12. Practical applicability, if any:

Currently, various social issues are on the rise, such as unemployment due to organizational restructuring (120,500 jobs affected); the impact of technology (mobile phones, social media) leading to reduced interpersonal connection, increased loneliness, and feelings of despair; cyberbullying; and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), which increasingly replaces human roles across many fields. These social problems, in addition to their economic consequences, also result in numerous psychological impacts. A review of recent studies indicates that the prevalence of mental health issues is increasing globally, including in Vietnam. However, in Vietnam, in-depth studies on depressive disorders remain limited in both quantity and quality, highlighting the urgent need for more thorough and systematic research in this field. In this context, CBT has been proven to be an effective psychological intervention for treating depression. CBT not only helps to correct maladaptive thinking and teach problem-solving skills, but also contributes to building positive beliefs and values, enhancing stress-coping abilities, and improving social relationships in individuals facing psychological difficulties related to depression.

13. Further research directions, if any: None

14. Project -related publications: None