Zúñiga Caiseo Ana Karina, De la Parra Guillermo, Núñez Lucía, Krause Mariane
School of Psychology, Adolfo Ibáñez University, Santiago; Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Santiago.
Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Santiago; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago.
Res Psychother. 2025 Mar 31;28(1). doi: 10.4081/ripppo.2025.839. Epub 2025 Mar 26.
Depression is one of the main reasons for seeking mental health services; however, few studies have focused on the perspective of depressed patients to understand what they expect from this instance. This study aims to develop a comprehensive model of patients' initial expectations regarding psychological treatment in mental healthcare settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen depressed adult patients referred to psychological care before their first session. Data was analyzed using grounded theory and consensual qualitative methods. Patients had expectations regarding the characteristics of psychological treatment, the psychologist, and changes. Patients expect psychological care to have a clear purpose and to last the time required until they feel better. They expect the psychologist to be an active and responsive professional. Regarding changes, patients expect to understand why they have depression, develop personal resources, and improve their self-esteem and mood. Facilitating factors (e.g., preferences for psychological support over medical treatment) and hindering factors (e.g., institutional constraints) were identified in achieving these expectations. Based on patients' expectations, a helping relationship that is more responsive to their needs is underlined. Therapeutic skills and contextual factors are key facilitating elements to meet these expectations. The findings discuss how addressing expectations can serve as input for delivering more satisfactory treatment to patients.
抑郁症是寻求心理健康服务的主要原因之一；然而，很少有研究从抑郁症患者的角度去了解他们对这种情况的期望。本研究旨在建立一个关于患者在精神卫生保健环境中对心理治疗的初始期望的综合模型。对16名在首次就诊前被转介接受心理治疗的成年抑郁症患者进行了半结构化访谈。使用扎根理论和共识定性方法对数据进行了分析。患者对心理治疗的特点、心理医生以及改变有期望。患者期望心理治疗有明确的目的，并持续到他们感觉好转所需的时间。他们期望心理医生是积极且有回应的专业人员。关于改变，患者期望了解自己患抑郁症的原因，培养个人资源，并提高自尊和情绪。在实现这些期望的过程中，确定了促进因素（例如，相对于药物治疗，更倾向于心理支持）和阻碍因素（例如，制度限制）。基于患者的期望，强调了一种更能回应他们需求的帮助关系。治疗技能和情境因素是满足这些期望的关键促进因素。研究结果讨论了如何将满足期望作为为患者提供更满意治疗的依据。
