Exploring psychotherapists’ experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study
Abstract Psychotherapists in Saudi Arabia face several challenges when treating patients with major depression. This qualitative study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by mental health professionals when delivering therapeutic interventions to patients d...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11293-3 |
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| author | Salha Senan Hend Alsulaiman |
| author_facet | Salha Senan Hend Alsulaiman |
| author_sort | Salha Senan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Psychotherapists in Saudi Arabia face several challenges when treating patients with major depression. This qualitative study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by mental health professionals when delivering therapeutic interventions to patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder within the unique cultural and social dynamics of Saudi Arabia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Saudi psychotherapists (n = 13) treating patients with major depression. Data were collected through detailed interview notes and analysed using thematic analysis. According to the perspectives of the psychotherapists, the challenges encountered were grouped around two key factors: factors related to therapists and factors related to patients. Findings from the thematic analysis showed that therapists’ motivation, patients’ family support, recency of the problem, patients’ personality, their belief in psychotherapy, financial reasons, the therapeutic relationship, and social support were the factors related to treatment success. The results show that both therapist-related factors (such as motivation, personal and professional needs) and patient-related factors (such as family support, personality, recentness of the problem, and financial problems) might be related to treatment success. These findings highlight the complex, multidimensional nature of the factors contributing to successful psychological treatment outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-013e6151ec2d4f37a4a568159ed25564 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-013e6151ec2d4f37a4a568159ed255642025-08-20T04:02:45ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-11293-3Exploring psychotherapists’ experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative studySalha Senan0Hend Alsulaiman1Department of Psychology, King Abdulaziz UniversityDepartment of Psychology, King Abdulaziz UniversityAbstract Psychotherapists in Saudi Arabia face several challenges when treating patients with major depression. This qualitative study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by mental health professionals when delivering therapeutic interventions to patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder within the unique cultural and social dynamics of Saudi Arabia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Saudi psychotherapists (n = 13) treating patients with major depression. Data were collected through detailed interview notes and analysed using thematic analysis. According to the perspectives of the psychotherapists, the challenges encountered were grouped around two key factors: factors related to therapists and factors related to patients. Findings from the thematic analysis showed that therapists’ motivation, patients’ family support, recency of the problem, patients’ personality, their belief in psychotherapy, financial reasons, the therapeutic relationship, and social support were the factors related to treatment success. The results show that both therapist-related factors (such as motivation, personal and professional needs) and patient-related factors (such as family support, personality, recentness of the problem, and financial problems) might be related to treatment success. These findings highlight the complex, multidimensional nature of the factors contributing to successful psychological treatment outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11293-3PsychotherapistsMajor depressive disorderQualitative analysisPsychotherapyPsychotherapeutic barriers |
| spellingShingle | Salha Senan Hend Alsulaiman Exploring psychotherapists’ experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study Scientific Reports Psychotherapists Major depressive disorder Qualitative analysis Psychotherapy Psychotherapeutic barriers |
| title | Exploring psychotherapists’ experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Exploring psychotherapists’ experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring psychotherapists’ experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring psychotherapists’ experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Exploring psychotherapists’ experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | exploring psychotherapists experiences in delivering effective treatment for major depression in saudi arabia a qualitative study |
| topic | Psychotherapists Major depressive disorder Qualitative analysis Psychotherapy Psychotherapeutic barriers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11293-3 |
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