Motivation, mening och förändring i depressionsbehandling – en kvalitativ studie om patientupplevelser

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study was to examine patients’ experiences of psychological treatment for depression, with an emphasis on motivation, meaning, and change. The study used qualitative methods, specifically thematic analysis with a critical realist epistemological foundation. Five adult participants were recruited and interviewed with semi-structured interviewing techniques. The material was transcribed, coded, and compiled into themes. The first main theme was concerned with the process of seeking professional help, the second theme was about the content of therapy itself, and the last theme related events and life circumstances to therapy and perceived mental health. The analysis and discussion highlight the importance of dealing with existential concerns that depressed patients with high degrees of hopelessness and meaninglessness may have, as a part of building a therapeutic alliance. Motivation to change may be created by uncovering repressed feelings that could be made available by discussing fundamental existential realities. The study also identifies possible negative effects on depressed patients’ mental health pertaining to the structure of the healthcare system. Methodology, clinical value, and implications for future research are discussed.