Depression management through psycho-spiritual package (PSP): An Indian perspective

Pages: 1077-1083
Ritu Sharma (School of Liberal Studies, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Raisan, Gandhinagar, Gujrat )

Depression has emerged as one of the most severe health threat in modern times. According to a World Health Organization report, depression affects 12 in 100 people in the world and by 2020, is going to substitute cardiac problems as the subsequent most widespread universal sickness. The intend of this study is to see how amalgamation of psychotherapy and spirituality along with various alternative therapies can help in managing depression without adversely disturbing the holistic wellbeing of the depression patient. The design of the study was parallel group pre-post experimental one. The experimental group was given treatment of Psycho-spiritual Package (PSP) and the control group was not given any such treatment. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) developed by Beck, Ward, Mendelson and Erabaugh (1961) was used to measure Depression level. Individual items of the BDI assess mood, pessimism, sense of failure, self-dissatisfaction, guilt, punishment, self-dislike, self-accusation, suicidal ideas, crying irritability, social withdrawal, body image, work difficulties, insomnia, fatigue, appetite, weight loss, bodily pre-occupation, and loss of libido. Using statistical analysis the null hypothesis was rejected at .01 level of confidence suggesting positive effects of Psycho Spiritual Package (PSP) in reducing Depression level of experimental group compare to control group. Detailed literature review suggests that no single therapy can be considered complete and effective antidepressant and hence only an integrated model can be considered as an effective depression management tool. Psycho-spiritual Package can widely be used for psycho therapeutic purposes in hospitals for holistic health and well-being of depression patients.