Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy
Abstract Background In the present study, we wanted to explore which metaphors patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) use to explain their experience of being in therapy and their improvement from depression. Methods Patients with MDD (N = 22) received either psychodynamic therapy (...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03551-1 |
| _version_ | 1818732332184502272 |
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| author | A. Malkomsen J. I. Røssberg T. Dammen T. Wilberg A. Løvgren R. Ulberg J. Evensen |
| author_facet | A. Malkomsen J. I. Røssberg T. Dammen T. Wilberg A. Løvgren R. Ulberg J. Evensen |
| author_sort | A. Malkomsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In the present study, we wanted to explore which metaphors patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) use to explain their experience of being in therapy and their improvement from depression. Methods Patients with MDD (N = 22) received either psychodynamic therapy (PDT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). They were interviewed with semi-structured qualitative interviews after ending therapy. The transcripts were analyzed using a method based on metaphor-led discourse analysis. Results Metaphors were organized into three different categories concerning the process of therapy, the therapeutic relationship and of improvement from depression. Most frequent were the metaphorical concepts of surface and depth, being open and closed, chemistry, tools, improvement as a journey from darkness to light and depression as a disease or opponent. Conclusions Patient metaphors concerning the therapeutic experience may provide clinicians and researchers valuable information about the process of therapy. Metaphors offer an opportunity for patients to communicate nuances about their therapeutic experience that are difficult to express in literal language. However, if not sufficiently explored and understood, metaphors may be misinterpreted and become a barrier for therapeutic change. Trial registration Clinical Trial gov. Identifier: NCT03022071 . Date of registration: 16/01/2017. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:31:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-287a7e9d9f0440289f5b7314dd110b0e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T23:31:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-287a7e9d9f0440289f5b7314dd110b0e2022-12-21T21:28:38ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2021-10-0121111210.1186/s12888-021-03551-1Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapyA. Malkomsen0J. I. Røssberg1T. Dammen2T. Wilberg3A. Løvgren4R. Ulberg5J. Evensen6Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University HospitalDivision of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University HospitalDepartment of Behavioral Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of OsloDivision of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University HospitalDivision of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University HospitalUniversity of Oslo, Institute of Clinical MedicineNydalen Outpatient ClinicAbstract Background In the present study, we wanted to explore which metaphors patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) use to explain their experience of being in therapy and their improvement from depression. Methods Patients with MDD (N = 22) received either psychodynamic therapy (PDT) or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). They were interviewed with semi-structured qualitative interviews after ending therapy. The transcripts were analyzed using a method based on metaphor-led discourse analysis. Results Metaphors were organized into three different categories concerning the process of therapy, the therapeutic relationship and of improvement from depression. Most frequent were the metaphorical concepts of surface and depth, being open and closed, chemistry, tools, improvement as a journey from darkness to light and depression as a disease or opponent. Conclusions Patient metaphors concerning the therapeutic experience may provide clinicians and researchers valuable information about the process of therapy. Metaphors offer an opportunity for patients to communicate nuances about their therapeutic experience that are difficult to express in literal language. However, if not sufficiently explored and understood, metaphors may be misinterpreted and become a barrier for therapeutic change. Trial registration Clinical Trial gov. Identifier: NCT03022071 . Date of registration: 16/01/2017.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03551-1Major depressive disorderCognitive behavioral therapyPsychodynamic therapyMetaphor |
| spellingShingle | A. Malkomsen J. I. Røssberg T. Dammen T. Wilberg A. Løvgren R. Ulberg J. Evensen Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy BMC Psychiatry Major depressive disorder Cognitive behavioral therapy Psychodynamic therapy Metaphor |
| title | Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy |
| title_full | Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy |
| title_fullStr | Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy |
| title_short | Digging down or scratching the surface: how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy |
| title_sort | digging down or scratching the surface how patients use metaphors to describe their experiences of psychotherapy |
| topic | Major depressive disorder Cognitive behavioral therapy Psychodynamic therapy Metaphor |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03551-1 |
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