Example psychotherapy dissertation topic 2:

The effects of the global economic crisis on male depression: Breaking the chain of adversity.

The global financial crisis has had a prolonged effect on the economy, with retrenchments still occurring some years after its initial impact. This study follows ten male employees of the defunct electrical retailer, Comet, in the year after they lost their jobs as a result of the company’s collapse. The age range of the subjects is between 22 and 59; five of the subjects chose to have group psychotherapy as a part of this study, two chose to undergo no therapy whatsoever, and the final three agreed to individual psychotherapy. This paper charts their progress and seeks to determine whether psychotherapy is able to break the chain of adversity with respect to how these men view themselves.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• McKee-Ryan, F., Song, Z., Wanberg, C.R. and Kinicki, A.J. (2005). ‘Psychological and physical well-being during unemployment: A meta-analytic study’. Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 90(1), pp. 53-76.
• Price, R.H., Choi, J.N. and Vinokur, A.D. (2002). ‘Links in the chain of adversity following job loss: How financial strain and loss of personal control lead to depression, impaired functioning, and poor health’. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, vol. 7(4), pp. 302-312.
• Vinokur, A.D. and Schul, Y. (2002). ‘The web of coping resources and pathways to reemployment following a job loss’. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, vol. 7(1), pp. 68-83.