The Effectiveness of Schema Therapy Integrated with Neurological Rehabilitation on Reducing Early Maladaptive Schemas and Symptoms of Depression in Patients with Chronic Depressive Disorder

Introduction: Referring the prevalence of depression in recent years, especially chronic depression and its resistance to treatment approaches, particular attention to this disease seems necessary. The aim of the present study is “the effectiveness of schema therapy integrated with neurological rehabilitation methods to reduce cognitive schema in chronic depressive disorder”.Method: This research has been done in the form of single case pilot study with multi-stepped base lines. For this purpose, six patients (three females and three males) from 13th District Cultural center in Tehran, who were diagnosed with chronic depression, were chosen to be evaluated by Beck Depression Scale, Young Schema Questionnaire and diagnostic interviews.Findings: The results signified the effectiveness of schema therapy integrated with neurological rehabilitation according to all subjectsu0027 scores decrease from baseline to post-treatment session, and then a two months follow-up for the first participant to the sixth one. The scores of all six subjects has fallen in Young Schema Scale and Beck Depression Inventory during the sessions. This shows the schema therapeutic efficacy integrated with neurological rehabilitation in reducing symptoms of depression.Results: It can be concluded that the schema therapy treatment integrated with neurological rehabilitation can be significantly effective through creating a positive schema, also through widening the positive views in depressed patients and moderating their negative cognitions.