The role of psychotherapy with a Quranic approach to improving women’s depression: A Case Study

Overview

This case study examines the application of Fayyaz's (2017) Quranic-based therapeutic model for treating major depressive disorder in a Muslim cultural context. The model diverges from symptom-focused diagnostic frameworks by identifying six depression types derived from disruptions across six relational domains, including relationships with self, God, and others. The research addresses limitations of cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly symptom relapse and cultural-religious constraints in Muslim societies, by proposing an indigenous intervention aligned with Islamic theological principles. The theoretical foundation rests on the premise that religious and spiritual beliefs function as protective factors against depression by reducing hopelessness and enhancing existential meaning. The study specifically investigates whether this etiology-oriented approach, which emphasizes modification of fundamental beliefs through Quranic interpretation, can produce measurable clinical improvement in major depressive disorder while maintaining cultural congruence with the participant's religious worldview.

Methods and approach

The research employed a qualitative single-case design with baseline-intervention-follow-up measurement points. The participant was a 60-year-old married woman with a bachelor's degree, residing in Tehran and meeting DSM criteria for major depressive disorder, selected through purposive sampling. The intervention consisted of 10 sessions implementing the Quranic-based depression treatment model. Assessment instruments included the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders for diagnostic confirmation, the Beck Depression Inventory-II for standardized symptom measurement, and a Quran-based Depression Scale specifically designed to evaluate depression types according to the therapeutic model's framework. Measurements were obtained at three temporal points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. The design incorporated both quantitative symptom tracking through validated instruments and qualitative evaluation of client experience, satisfaction, and emotional states throughout the treatment process.

Key Findings

Beck Depression Inventory scores demonstrated a consistent decreasing trend across all three measurement points, indicating symptom improvement that persisted through the one-month follow-up period. The total score on the Quran-based Depression Scale exhibited a parallel decreasing trajectory, suggesting reduction in depression as conceptualized within the model's six-type framework. Qualitative evaluation of the participant revealed high satisfaction with the therapeutic approach, reports of mood stabilization, and presence of positive emotional states. The symptom reduction observed at post-intervention was maintained at the follow-up assessment, suggesting durability of treatment effects beyond the active intervention period. The convergence of standardized depression measurement and model-specific assessment indicated improvement across both conventional clinical metrics and culturally-specific depression constructs embedded in the Quranic framework.

Implications

The findings contribute to literature on culturally adapted psychotherapeutic interventions by demonstrating preliminary evidence for an indigenous Islamic model of depression treatment. The observed symptom reduction and maintenance at follow-up suggest that etiologically-oriented approaches targeting fundamental beliefs through religious frameworks may offer viable alternatives or complements to standard cognitive-behavioral protocols, particularly in populations where religious identity is central to meaning-making and psychological well-being. The study addresses the gap between Western-derived therapeutic models and the cultural-religious contexts of Muslim populations, where conventional treatments may encounter acceptance barriers or limited cultural resonance. The single-case design limits generalizability, requiring replication with larger samples and controlled comparisons to establish efficacy relative to established treatments. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether the Quranic-based model offers advantages in reducing relapse rates, a documented limitation of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The model's emphasis on relational domains and belief modification may have implications for integrating spiritually-oriented interventions into clinical practice in contexts where religious frameworks are therapeutically relevant.