Feasibility testing of socio-culturally relevant counseling techniques based on the Indian epic Ramayana for persons with common mental disorders.

Background: Common mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, were identified as the most prevalent conditions in low and middle-income countries like India. Persons with common mental health disorders (CMDs) often seek psychotherapy in conjunction with medical interventions. Religious-based interventions, akin to standardized psychotherapies, have demonstrated efficacy in addressing mental health challenges. Indian counseling is currently in the formative stage, which requires feasibility testing of counseling techniques based on the Ramayana for persons with CMDs. Aim: This study aims to test the feasibility of socio-culturally relevant counseling techniques based on Ramayana for persons with CMDs. Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental single-group pre-post-design to assess the feasibility of the Ramayana-based counseling module on 17 participants with CMDs from the outpatient department of Bangalore. The data was collected from August 2022 to March 2023. Non-parametric tests, including the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, were employed to analyze coping, well-being, and clinical global rating. Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between well-being, coping, and socio-demographic variables (age, education, and duration of illness). Results: The results of feasibility show that clinical severity decreased while mental well-being increased. Four of 14 domains showed changes from baseline to post that increased active coping, positive reframing, and decreased behavioral disengagement and self-blame. Conclusion: The study highlights that the Ramayana-based counseling module is feasible to implement in clinical settings for persons with CMDs and may help in enhancing well-being and coping.