Cognitive Application Behavioral Therapy in Overcoming Dysthymia in Adolescents with Borderline Disorder Intellectual Functioning
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47453/coution.v6i1.3124Abstract
Dysthymia, or Persistent Depressive Disorder, is a milder form of depression that lasts for years. This condition can cause problems in daily life and a decreased quality of life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach proven effective in treating various mood disorders, including dysthymia. This study discusses the case of a 17-year-old female adolescent diagnosed with dysthymia and with an IQ of 70, thus categorized as borderline intellectual functioning. Symptoms that appeared were suicidal thoughts, hopelessness, low self-confidence, and fatigue. The client's condition was worsened by limited problem-solving abilities and inflexible thinking patterns. The assessments used were the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI), SSCT (Sack's Sentence Completion Test), CFIT (Culture Fair Intelligence Test), and Graphic Tests (BAUM, DAP, HTP) which were used to determine the client's cognitive and emotional functioning. The intervention was structured, focusing on emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, and improving coping skills. The intervention was repeated and simplified according to the client's understanding and interests. Results showed improvements in emotional regulation and social skills, improved self-perception, and reduced suicidal thoughts. These results indicate that CBT is effective and can be adapted for borderline intellectual functioning clients with dysthymia using simpler methods.
Downloads
References
Ahmed, S.P., Piera Pi-Sunyer, B., Moses-Payne, M.E., Goddings, A.-L., Speyer, L.G.,
Kuyken, W., Dalgleish, T., & Blakemore, S.-J. (2024). The role of self-referential and
social processing in the relationship between pubertal status and difficulties in mental
health and emotion regulation in adolescent girls in the UK. Developmental Science ,
(4), e13503. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13503
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
Contena, B., & Taddei, S. (2017). Psychological and Cognitive Aspects of Borderline
Intellectual Functioning. European Psychologist , 22 (3), 159–166.
https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000293
Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy . Cengage Learning.
Cuijpers, P., Straten, A. van, Schuurmans, J., Oppen, P. van, Hollon, S. D., & Andersson, G.
(2009). Psychotherapy for chronic major depression and dysthymia: A meta-analysis.
In Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. Center for Reviews and Dissemination (UK).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK77927/
Dennis, J.P., & Vander Wal, J.S. (2010). The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory: Instrument
Development and Estimates of Reliability and Validity. Cognitive Therapy and
Research , 34 (3), 241–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-009-9276-4
Devakumar, D., Palfreyman, A., Uthayakumar-Cumarasamy, A., Ullah, N., Ranasinghe, C.,
Minckas, N., Nadkarni, A., Oram, S., Osrin, D., & Mannell, J. (2021). Mental health
of women and children experiencing family violence in conflict settings: A mixed
methods systematic review. Conflict and Health, 15 (1), 74.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00410-4
Hartley, S.L., Esbensen, A.J., Shalev, R., Vincent, L.B., Mihaila, I., & Bussanich, P. (2015).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Adults With Mild Intellectual Disability:
A Pilot Study. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 8 (2),
–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2015.1033573
Hollon, S. D., & Ponniah, K. (2010). A review of empirically supported psychological
therapies for mood disorders in adults. Depression and Anxiety, 27 (10), 891–932.
https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20741
Kim, H., & Chen, J. S. (2016). Destination image formation process: A holistic model.
Journal of Vacation Marketing, 22 (2), 154–166.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1356766715591870
Luo, J., Tang, L., Kong, X., & Li, Y. (2024). Global, regional, and national burden of
depressive disorders in adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years from 1990 to
: A trend analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Asian
Journal of Psychiatry, 92 , 103905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103905
McDonald, S. (2015). Facing the challenges of single-case experimental methodology.
Aphasiology, 29 (5), 575–580. https://doi.org/10.1080/02687038.2014.987051
Menéndez-Aller, Á., Cuesta, M., Postigo, Á., González-Nuevo, C., García-Fernández, J., &
García-Cueto, E. (2023). Validation of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II in
the general Spanish population. Current Psychology , 42 (14), 12096–12103.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02447-3
Oishi, S., Takizawa, T., Kamata, N., Miyaji, S., Tanaka, K., & Miyaoka, H. (2018). WebBased Training Program Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Enhance Cognitive
Flexibility and Alleviate Psychological Distress Among Schoolteachers: Pilot
Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Research Protocols , 7 (1), e8541.
https://doi.org/10.2196/resprot.8541
Peltopuro, M., Ahonen, T., Kaartinen, J., Seppälä, H., & Närhi, V. (2014). Borderline
Intellectual Functioning: A Systematic Literature Review. Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities , 52 (6), 419–443. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-
6.419
Salari, S., Shaygan, M., & Setoodeh, G. (2022). The mediating role of maladaptive cognitive
schemes regarding the relationship between parenting styles and chronic pain in
adolescents: A structural equation modeling approach. Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry and Mental Health , 16 (1), 60. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-022-00496-
Salvador-Carulla, L., García-Gutiérrez, J.C., Ruiz Gutiérrez-Colosía, M., Artigas-Pallarès, J.,
García Ibáñez, J., González Pérez, J., Nadal Pla, M., Aguilera Inés, F., Isus, S.,
Cereza, J.M., Poole, M., Portero Lazcano, G., Monzón, P., Leiva, M., Parellada, M.,
García Nonell, K., Martínez i Hernández, A., Rigau, E., & Martínez-Leal, R. (2013).
Borderline Intellectual Functioning: Consensus and good practice guidelines. Revista
de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental (English Edition) , 6 (3), 109–120.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpsmen.2012.12.002
Saraswati, H., & Hildayani, R. (2019). Using a Cognitive–Behavioral Approach to Reduce
Aggressive Responses in an Adolescent with Borderline Intelligence . 72–86.
https://doi.org/10.2991/iciap-18.2019.6
Sätilä, H., Jolma, L.M., Meriläinen-Nipuli, M., & Koivu-Jolma, M. (2022). Challenges and
Neuropsychological Functioning in Children and Adolescents with Borderline
Intellectual Functioning. Children , 9 (12), Article 12.
https://doi.org/10.3390/children9121847
Wright, M. O., Crawford, E., & Del Castillo, D. (2009). Childhood emotional maltreatment
and later psychological distress among college students: The mediating role of
maladaptive schemas. Child Abuse & Neglect , 33 (1), 59–68.
