York University Professors Seek Volunteers Suffering From Depression To Test New Emotionally-Focused Therapy

TORONTO, September 1, 1998 -- Focusing on the emotional root of a problem may be the key to giving depression sufferers a longer sustained recovery and a lower rate of relapse, says York University Department of Psychology professor Dr. Les Greenberg. The approach, which will be clinically tested this fall, centres on relieving depression by accessing, exploring and resolving basic emotions such as sadness, shame, anger and fear.

Professor Greenberg will be working on the clinical trial with York University professor Dr. Lynne Angus and Dr. Jeanne Watson of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. The team requires volunteers to undergo 16 to 20 psychotherapy sessions for treatment of depression. The sessions will begin in September.

Volunteers may be male or female, between the ages of 18 and 65, not currently taking anti-depressant medication and should have a depressed mood, loss of interest in activities, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, change in appetite or sleep and/or fatigue for at least two weeks. All sessions are free of charge.

Emotionally focused therapy differs from earlier treatment methods in its emphasis on the role emotion plays in therapeutic change, says Professor Greenberg. Though cognitive therapy (which explores thought processes) and interpersonal therapy (which focuses on interpersonal relationships) have been used effectively by psychotherapists, all sufferers are prone to relapse. Often, depression returns 18 months after therapy sessions end.

"To facilitate a deeper emotional process and help patients sustain good emotional health, we need to access the core and specific determinants of depression," says Professor Greenberg. "Evidence suggests that therapy that increases patients' knowledge of their emotional blocks and helps them deal with their emotional baggage will be more effective in preventing relapse."

The study is funded by the Ontario Mental Health Foundation and the Social Science and Humanistic Research Council of Canada. Those interested in volunteering for the sessions are welcome to contact the Psychotherapy Research Clinic at (416) 736-5364 or 923-6641, ext. 6025.

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For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
email: sinem@yorku.ca

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
email: kturriff@yorku.ca
YU/055/98