Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 -

2 PhD, Department of Psychology, Women Research Center, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

3 Master of family counselling. Department of Psychology. Tehran University. Tehran. Iran

Abstract

Extended Abstract:

Introduction

Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent mental disorders with a significant disease burden worldwide and in Iran. While common treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy are effective, they sometimes face issues of symptom relapse and cultural-religious limitations in Muslim societies. Given the role of spirituality and religious beliefs as protective factors against depression, it is essential to design indigenous interventions aligned with Islamic culture. Fayyaz’s (2017) therapeutic model, by extracting six types of depression from the Quran, provides a etiology-oriented approach based on modifying fundamental beliefs. The present study was conducted with the aim of qualitatively examining the effectiveness of this model in improving a woman with major depressive disorder.
Research Question
What is the role of Quranic-based psychotherapy in the improvement process of a depressed individual, as investigated through a qualitative case study?

Literature Review

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders in the world (Kessler & Bromet, 2013) and was projected to be the second leading cause of disability by 2020 (Azizi et al., 2019). The World Health Organization (2017) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2023) emphasize the high prevalence and heavy disease burden of this disorder. In Iran, some studies have reported a high prevalence of depression among clients of Tehran clinics (Eisa Morad, 2025). Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the first-line treatment for depression due to its strong empirical support (Kovich et al., 2023), and its effectiveness has been confirmed in various studies (Ciharova et al., 2021; Windahl et al., 2020). However, some evidence suggests that the effects of CBT may not be sustained in the long term, and the rate of symptom relapse in some patients is significant (Friborg & Johnsen, 2017). This issue has led researchers to investigate complementary or alternative treatments.
2.1. The Role of Culture and Religion in Understanding and Treating Depression
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR, 2022) emphasizes the importance of cultural considerations in explaining disorders (Alarcón, 2002). Culture influences the expression of symptoms, coping mechanisms, and treatment-seeking tendencies (Sam & Moreira, 2002). Among cultural components, religious and spiritual beliefs hold a special place. Studies have shown that these beliefs can play a protective role against depression by reducing hopelessness and increasing meaning (Koenig, 2012; Worthington et al., 2011). Some research has shown a significant correlation between religion and reduced depressive symptoms (Larson & Larson, 2003; Sage, 2011).
2.1.1. Research Related to Islamic-Quranic Therapies
Studies indicate that religiously integrated CBT can enhance efficacy for Muslim clients (Nawaz & Yousuf, 2025), and spiritual interventions can promote rapid improvement of symptoms (Hook, 2010; Sotillos, 2021). In Iran, research supports the benefits of spiritually-integrated approaches (Savadi et al., 2021; Farhush et al., 2022). A significant development in this area is the indigenous “Quranic-Based Model for Depression” developed by Fayyaz (2017). This model departs from a symptom-focused diagnostic approach, instead identifying six types of depression rooted in disruptions across six relational domains (self, God, others, etc.). Preliminary case studies and group trials in Iran have reported its effectiveness in reducing depressive symptoms (Bahrami Ehsan et al., 2021; Fayyaz & Sharifian, 2022; Fayyaz et al., 2020; Bouzhmehrani, 2018).

Methodology

The research method was a qualitative case study, utilizing a single-case baseline-intervention-follow-up design. The selected case was a 60-year-old married woman living in Tehran, with a bachelor's degree, who was a homemaker. She was selected through purposive sampling from women in Tehran meeting the criteria for major depressive disorder. She underwent 10 sessions of depression treatment with a Quranic approach. Research instruments included the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and a Quran-based Depression Scale; the individual's scores on these scales were examined in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up.

Conclusion

The results of the present study generally showed that Quranic-based psychotherapy reduced the symptoms of major depressive disorder; furthermore, the examination of findings showed that Beck depression scores in the pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up stages had a decreasing trend, indicating improvement in depressive symptoms that continued at least up to one month after the end of treatment. Qualitative evaluations of the client also indicated high satisfaction with the treatment, a stable mood, and positive emotions. A similar decreasing trend was observed in the total score of the Quran-based depression scale.
Keywords: Clinical Depression, Spiritual-Religious Therapies, Quranic-Based Psychotherapy, Intervention, Case Study.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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