Psychoanalysis.  2013 Apr;24(1):50-57.

Effect of Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on Brain Function of a Patient with Major Depressive Disorder: A Case Report

• Ku JI
• Kang EH
• Hong TY
• Yu BH

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed at examining changes in brain functions in a patient with major depressive disorder (MDD) before and after short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy.
METHODS
On a patient with MDD we recruited, a well-trained psychotherapist administered 26 sessions of short-term dynamic psychotherapy. Before and after psychotherapy, we assessed the patient's psychological states using the Korean Version of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS), and also measured the patient's brain functions with the [18F]FDG-Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
RESULTS
The score of K-HDRS decreased from 17 to 11 after the treatment. The treatment resulted in decreased [18F]FDG uptake in the right precentral gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule, medial dorsal nucleus of right thalamus, right middle occipital gyrus, right lingual gyrus, and left cuneus after the treatment. It increased [18F]FDG uptake in right precuneus, left superior occipital gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, left parahippocampal gyrus, and left insula.
CONCLUSION
This study found that short-term dynamic psychotherapy led to clinical improvement and changes in the MDD patient's brain functions. We suggest that a well-designed comparison study may be necessary in order to explore brain areas which could be treated with short-term dynamic psychotherapy for improvement of depression.

Keyword

Short-term dynamic psychotherapy; Major depressive disorder; Positron emission tomography

MeSH Terms

Brain
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major
Humans
Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus
Parahippocampal Gyrus
Positron-Emission Tomography
Psychotherapy
Thalamus