The purposes of our research are as follows: the first is to investigate whether or not intensive Naikan is effective for modifying the distorted cognition of one's own family, the second is to elicit from our data the factors provoking change of cognition. In this research, we conducted interviews and family-drawing-tests for our subjects. The subjects were formed from 2 groups, the experimental group and the control group. The former consisted of 8 members who took intensive Naikan therapy, and the latter consisted of 8 members who have never taken the therapy.

  Then we compared the two groups’ outcome to evaluate which group's cognition changed for the better. Our data shows that 6 members in the experimental group and 1 member in the control group improved their cognition. We conclude that intensive Naikan could be effective for modifying cognition. In addition to that, the data indicates that the "therapists" and "the basic structure of three items" in Naikan therapy led to the change as external factors, whereas catharsis, and analysis and reports of their own dreams would be internal processes of the change.

  Presently, Naikan has been introduced in educational and psychological settings, as same as psychiatric medicine. Moreover, its application has been extended not only cross Japan but also globally. Although Naikan has been actively studied especially after the establishment of the Naikan Association and the publication of its journal, the theoretical basis of Naikan has not been developed satisfactorily. In order to obtain a consensus from researchers worldwide, it may be effective to study Naikan from psychological perspective, for example, by focusing on its cognition.

  In this study, a scale was developed to measure the cognitive patterns of Naikan, with subjects who have not experienced Naikan practice. A total of 213 students completed this scale, and 58 of them completed TEG to examine its validity. A principal factor analysis with promax rotation yielded four factors. Cronbach's α was used to evaluate the reliability of this scale, which was determined to be .88. The result of the Pearson correlation between each subscale and TEG was partly consistent with the results of former studies. Further study is required to confirm the validity of this scale.

  We studied 25 subjects who underwent the Intensive Naikan using the State- and Trait-Anger scale〈subscales of State and Trait Anger Expression Inventory（Spielberger, 1988）〉. We found that both State-Anger and Trait-Anger scores significantly decreased after the Intensive Naikan. Changes were more prominent in Trait-Anger than State-Anger scores. These findings suggest that the Naikan method promotes coping with anger proneness as a personality trait.

  We compared long-term outcomes between 9 patients with schizophrenia who were admitted and received 1-week intensive Naikan during the remission period 13-14 years earlier (Naikan group) and 8 who were admitted 13-14 years earlier and received no Naikan therapy (Non-Naikan group). The background, symptoms, and clinical course were similar between the two groups. In the Naikan group, 2 patients were not admitted after Naikan therapy, but the other 7 were admitted 3-6 times. Both groups showed repeated remissions and relapses. However, an awareness survey (concerning the parents, patients themselves, regrets/decisions, and treatment effects) revealed differences between the two groups. The Naikan group was thankful for their parents, deeply understood their immaturity and dependence on others kindness, highly regarded Naikan therapy, and was aware of their internal independence. The non-Naikan group was aware of only external and surface situations and considered drugs to be markedly effective as treatment. Despite repeated admissions and discharges, the Naikan group continued an existential spiritual way of life with richness of the mind.

  The article presents the results of the first Naikan research in Eastern Europe and the author’s mother country of Bulgaria in particular. The research includes the application of written Naikan to two groups of four test subjects each, all of them Bulgarians at an average age of 29 years. The first group consists of drug addicted persons who are currently undergoing psychological and social rehabilitation at a daycare centre in Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia. The second group is a healthy control one. None of the examinees have had done any form of Naikan before or have heard about this approach. Bearing the cultural differences in mind, the research is aimed at tracking down the possibilities for Naikan application in the field of drug rehabilitation outside Japan, i.e. in Bulgaria, as well as for the Naikan application to Bulgarians in general. The results reveal that it is quite possible for this authentic Japanese psychotherapeutic approach to be successfully applied in various fields in Bulgaria.