Effectiveness of Tactical Defense Management based on Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) in Reducing Depression and Anxiety in Students

Jamshid  Jarareh; Mohammad Hossein  Babazadeh

doi:10.18502/qjcr.v24i94.20084

Jamshid Jarareh Ph.D. in Counseling, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Hossein Babazadeh Master's student in counseling, Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/qjcr.v24i94.20084

Keywords: Tactical Defense Management; Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP); depression; anxiety

Abstract

Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of tactical defense management based on intensive and short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in reducing anxiety and depression in students. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measures and a control group. The statistical population included all students enrolled at Shahid Rajaee University of Tehran during the 2023–2024 academic year. The sample consisted of 14 participants selected through convenience sampling following a public call. After completing the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, 1996), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck, 1988), and an initial clinical interview, participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 7) and a control group (n = 7). Both groups completed the BDI and BAI before and after the intervention. The experimental group attended six sessions of the Tactical Defense Management program based on Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), whereas the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Findings: Results indicated that Tactical Defense Management based on ISTDP significantly reduced anxiety and depression among students (p<.05). Conclusion:
These findings suggest that applying Tactical Defense Management grounded in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) can be effective in decreasing anxiety and depression among university students.