Table 1 Outline of the PPSF intervention for patients with depression
Session 1 | Implementer | Format (duration) | Theme | Instillation of hope: build trust and describe psychological pain |
Research nurse | Individual, face-to-face (30-40 min) | Content | 1. Encourage patients to talk about their current psychological pain and explore the stressors of psychological pain 2. Instruct patients to perform simple deep breathing exercises | |
SFBT questions | 1. Normal question: What is your most serious psychological pain at the moment? Many patients in our unit suffer from psychological pain. Based on your description, psychological pain is affecting you greatly and it may be more helpful for you to discuss and learn how to let go of it during this intervention time together 2. Presuppositional question: What is the goal of this session? What can I do to help you in this situation? | |||
Homework | 1. Make a list of psychological pain on a problem list and try to get the patient to normalize the pain and pay less attention to it 2. Perform simple deep breathing exercises on their own | |||
Session 2 | Implementer | Format (duration) | Theme | Agency thinking: uncover strengths and rebuild hope |
Research nurse | Individual, face-to-face (30-40 min) | Content | 1. Watch a short video about hope and actively explore positive qualities such as hope and optimism 2. Instruct patients to perform imaginary relaxation training 3. Encourage patients to talk about touching or wonderful events they experienced during their growth stage, such as childhood memories, family happiness, career achievements, etc., emphasizing past strengths and resources | |
SFBT questions | 1. Strength exploration: if you think of yourself as the person you just described, what do you think are her strengths? 2. Exceptional question: what stage of growth was the happiest for you and what happened to make you feel happy? 3. Positive empowerment: what do you think your growing-up experience has given you? | |||
Homework | 1. Recall what things reflect what strengths and characteristics of their growth, list three 2. Conduct independent imagination relaxation training | |||
Session 3 | Implementer | Format (duration) | Theme | Pathway strategy: social support and active response |
Research nurse | Individual, face-to-face (30-40 min) | Content | 1. Ask the patients about the way they cope with psychological pain and how they have handled similar experiences in the past 2. Discuss how family members, friends, colleagues, and others have influenced and helped the patient during the illness or when experiencing certain things | |
SFBT questions | 1. Relationship question: Who do you have a better relationship with? Who will be the first person to discuss it if there is a problem? 2. Response question: every life struggles to adapt to its environment and grows upward no matter what the situation is, I believe you have taken some methods, can you talk about them specifically? | |||
Homework | 1. Seek help from nurses, doctors, patients in the ward, parents, teachers, and classmates via cell phone and record it 2. Perform 3–5 min of brief positive breathing exercises on your own | |||
Session 4 | Implementer | Format (duration) | Theme | Determination of goals: set goals and focus on solutions |
Research nurse | Individual, face-to-face (30-40 min) | Content | 1. Develop feasible short-term goals for specific psychological pain based on the patient’s strengths and in consultation with the patient 2. Discuss tips to achieve the goals and refine the sessions and steps to accomplish them | |
SFBT questions | 1. Focused Question: what problem is being solved today? 2. Change Question: if you start to change, what is the first thing we can see about you that has changed? 3. Miracle Question: imagine that a miracle happens when you are sleeping at night and the whole house is quiet. This miracle solves the problem you have been confused about while you were asleep. When you wake up the next day, what is the sign or change that lets you know that this miracle has indeed happened and that your problem has been solved? | |||
Homework | Review the content of this course, schedule the short-term goals set, form a behavior schedule, and record the completion of each day | |||
Session 5 | Implementer | Format (duration) | Theme | Reconstruction of cognition: evaluate progress and think positively |
Research nurse | Individual, face-to-face (30-40 min) | Content | 1. Encourage patients to share their changes and progress and, thus, inspire confidence in change 2. Reflect on the meaning of the positive impact of the disease on life | |
SFBT questions | 1. Complimentary question: see the change in yourself? It is really special (recommended to use after you see a noticeable change) 2. Ruling question: now you are asked to rate yourself, how many points do you rate? 3. Guide the shift in thinking: how do you think this experience has helped you? | |||
Homework | 1. Wake up every morning and say “believe in yourself” 3 times to yourself 2. Summarize the positive effects of the disease after this intervention | |||
Session 6 | Implementer | Format (duration) | Theme | Reinforcement of hope: look to the future and enhance hope |
Research nurse | Individual, face-to-face (30-40 min) | Content | 1. Objectively summarize the gains and remaining problems throughout the intervention 2. Guide patients to express their expectations for the future | |
SFBT questions | What are your feelings and thoughts about these interventions? Do you have plans after this consultation? This change means a lot to you and we see your power and ability to change. In what other areas do you think there might be changes? |