Effectiveness of Cognitive Hypnotherapy on Purpose in Life among Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive hypnotherapy in enhancing purpose in life among individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This applied quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder who referred to counseling and psychiatric centers in Bandar Abbas during the first half of 2022. Thirty participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 participants in each group). The experimental group received ten 90-minute sessions of cognitive hypnotherapy, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Purpose in Life Questionnaire developed by Crumbaugh and Maholick and analyzed through ANCOVA using SPSS version 26. The results of covariance analysis demonstrated that cognitive hypnotherapy had a statistically significant effect on increasing purpose in life among individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (F = 25.33, P < 0.0001). After controlling for pretest scores, a significant difference was found between the experimental and control groups, indicating the effectiveness of the intervention in improving meaning and purposefulness in life. The findings suggest that cognitive hypnotherapy can enhance positive dimensions of mental health, including meaning, hope, and purpose in life, in addition to reducing depressive symptoms. Therefore, this therapeutic approach may serve as an effective complementary psychological intervention for improving psychological well-being and quality of life among individuals with Major Depressive Disorder.