Cinematherapy for Women With Depression and Anxiety

Cinematherapy is a creative therapeutic intervention in which a trained professional prescribes the patient to watch a film and uses the characters and themes as metaphors to promote self-exploration and change. The effectiveness of cinematherapy as a therapeutic technique has been demonstrated through its effectiveness in improving participants' self-esteem, emotional expression and understanding, and interpersonal relationships, and in reducing depressive and anxious symptoms.The cinematherapy intervention involves a targeted selection of film content and activities designed to improve the patients' mental condition.The study includes eight meetings on a monthly basis (programming of eight films lasting approximately two hours and subsequent discussion on the contents of the film shown).

Inclusion criteria

• female, aged 18-75 years;
• Diagnosis of Depressive Disorders (unipolar and bipolar) and Anxiety Disorders according to the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fifth Edition (DSM-5), both new onset in subjects without a previous psychiatric history, and depressive and anxious recurrences;
• Taking psychopharmacological therapy;
• Fluent knowledge of the Italian language;
• Release of a written informed consent, signed by the patient or legal representative and partner.

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of Schizophrenia or other psychotic spectrum disorders;
• Diagnosis of neurological disorders associated with cognitive decline;
• Current abuse of alcohol and psychotropic substances, with the exception of smoking;
• Refusal to sign the informed consent to participate in the study.