Archives of Humanities & Social Sciences Research
ISSN: 3065-3568 | DOI: 10.64030/3065-3568
Sora Pazer
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized not only by affective dysregulation but by persistent cognitive rigidity a systematic narrowing of epistemic flexibility that renders standard cognitive interventions such as logical disputation ineffective or counterproductive in a substantial proportion of patients. Existing evidencebased approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and metacognitive therapy (MCT), address this rigidity through distinct mechanisms: schema restructuring, cognitive defusion, and attentional retraining, respectively. Despite these contributions, a systematic gap remains: no structured intervention exploits the metaphorical architecture of depressive thought itself as a point of therapeutic leverage. This paper introduces Disruptive Metaphor Expansion Therapy (DMET), a theoretically grounded, integrative intervention model designed to address cognitive rigidity in depression by identifying, elaborating, escalating, and ultimately disrupting the core metaphors that organize depressive self-perception. Drawing on Conceptual Metaphor Theory mental simulation theory embodied cognition frameworks, and clinical literature on provocative and metaphor-based therapies, DMET proposes a five-phase intervention sequence: metaphor identification, systematic expansion, escalation to logical extremes, disruption through internal contradiction, and reconstruction of alternative metaphorical mappings. The paper presents the theoretical foundations of DMET, delineates its clinical structure, illustrates its application through a representative clinical vignette, and situates it within the landscape of established psychotherapeutic modalities. Potential mechanisms of action including schema destabilization, metacognitive distancing, and narrative restructuringare discussed alongside proposed outcome measures. Indications, contraindications, and ethical considerations are addressed. DMET is proposed not as a standalone therapy but as a structured module within integrative psychotherapy, suitable for individuals with high verbal capacity and sufficient ego stability. Future directions for empirical validation are outlined [1-3].