Alexandru I. Tiba1*, Laura Voss2
alexandrutiba@gmail.com
1 Department of Psychology, University of Oradea, Romania and to Private Practice in Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Oradea, Romania. Address: 4 Calea Clujului Street, 410053, Oradea, Bihor, Romania
2 The Hull York Medical School, University of York. Address: Heslington York YO10 5DD, UK
Abstract
The high rate of recurrence and residual symptoms of depression continuously motivate the search for new treatments addressing this challenging condition. In this single-case study, we reported the application of a cognitive rehabilitation skills training based on remote kinematics as a treatment for residual depression by targeting deficits of mental simulations of action. We found that the administration of Kinect-based rehabilitation training resulted in important improvements showed by significant mean baseline reductions (MBLR) of difficulty in imagining positive actions (MBLR= 54 %), negative emotions (MBLR = 36.3 %), cognitive flexibility (MBLR= 69.7 %), depressive symptoms (MBLR= 80%), and physical retardation (MBLR= 50 %). Similarly, improvements in positive affect (MBLR = 107 %) and vividness of motor imagery for positive actions were registered (MBLR= 100 %). We also found unique effects of our intervention such as reports of involuntary action simulations to distant stimuli or extended affordances. The training was well-accepted and the patient considered it was an entertaining way to do physical exercises and to get in physical and mental shape. We concluded that further scientific research of remote Kinematic interventions in depression may be warranted.
Please cite this article as: Tiba, A. I., & Voss, L. (2022). A MOTOR IMAGERY TRAINING FOR IMPROVING ACTION COGNITION RESULTS IN THE REDUCTION OF RESIDUAL SYMPTOMS AFTER MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER: A SINGLE-CASE STUDY. Journal of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies, 22(1), 137-167.
DOI: 10.24193/jebp.2022.1.8
Published online: 2022/03/01
Published print: 2022/03/01
Keywords: embodied cognition, action simulation, Kinect, depression, rehabilitation