Painhunting Therapy for Interpersonal Loss-Related Depression

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy of Painhunting therapy, a brief structured psychotherapy, for adults with significant interpersonal loss and comorbid depressive symptoms in Kazakhstan. Seventy-two participants will be randomly assigned to receive either immediate Painhunting therapy (3 sessions over 3-4 weeks) or a 4-week waitlist control condition. Therapy is delivered in-person in Astana or remotely via secure video conferencing (Zoom). Therapy sessions will be delivered by five trained Painhunting practitioners under the supervision of the Principal Investigator. The primary outcomes are changes in depression severity (PHQ-9) and complicated grief symptoms (ICG) from baseline to post-treatment. Secondary outcomes include anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and functional disability. All waitlist participants receive treatment after the waiting period.