Abstract
BACKGROUND: Depression is a common mental illness worldwide. Morita therapy is a novel and effective intervention method for treating depression patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of modified Morita therapy on social functioning and quality of life in individuals suffering from depression. METHODS: The data of depressive patients hospitalized in Kangci Hospital of Jiaxing from June 2021 to May 2022 were collected and analyzed by propensity score matching (PSM). The control group received antidepressant treatment and standard psychiatric care (n = 30), while the study group received modified Morita therapy on the basis of standard treatment (n = 30). Both experimental groups received a six-week intervention. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) was used to assess the severity of depression before and after the intervention. Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) was used to assess the anxiety level of patients. Social Dysfunction Screening Scale (SDSS) was used to evaluate the social functioning of the patients. Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) was implemented to evaluate the quality of life of patients based on four dimensions: physical function, psychological function, social function, and material life status through 74 items. RESULTS: After six weeks of intervention, the study group exhibited significantly reduced HAMD-17, HAMA, and SDSS scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, significant improvements were observed in physical function, psychological function, social function, material well-being domains, and the overall GQOLI-74 questionnaire scores within the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Modified Morita therapy effectively alleviates depression and anxiety levels among depressed patients while enhancing their social functioning and improving their quality of life, thus highlighting its clinical applications.