Abstract
Diabetics with serious somatic disease complications often lapse into a depressive state because of anxiety, anger, despair and remorse. We encountered a 58-year old man in a depressive state with serious somatic disease complications. We did non-structural interviews with the patient. In this study, we report the process of psychotherapy. In interviews, we found distorted cognition peculiar to the patient and his tendency to make extremely negative evaluation of his memories of past experiences. Therefore, we started searching intervention, in which we used reminiscences. The therapist gave him homework and suggestions because he became able to remember past situations objectively. The patient's chief concern changed from past to present after the intervention. As a result, the patient came to feel less negative about undergoing diabetic treatment. As the patient began to recognize his situation objectively, the therapist urged him on to recollect positive reminiscences. Thus, the patient was able to make proper revaluation of the past events. Consequently his depressive state improved along with recovering his self-esteem. In addition, we could discuss the improvement of this case from the viewpoints of both cognitive and narrative theories. This study suggests we can improve the depressive state and self-esteem of diabetics with serious somatic disease complications by helping them to recollect positive reminiscences with objective cognition.
