Zhuangzi and Depression: Toward a Culturally Informed Conceptual Framework for Integrative Psychotherapy
Zixiao Wang, Hongmei Zhang
Modern Health Science April 22, 2026 DOI: 10.30560/mhs.v9n2p10 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Depression |
| Key points | Argues that Zhuangzi's philosophy offers three clinically relevant constructs for integrative psychotherapy for depression: decentering from rigid self-identification, acceptance of change and limited control, and reconstruction of value beyond instrumental achievement. The author contends it should serve as a culturally resonant interpretive framework rather than a stand-alone treatment or empirical substitute for evidence-based care. |
Abstract
Depression is a major contributor to global disability, yet symptom reduction alone does not exhaust the clinical problem of meaning, self-interpretation, and cultural fit in treatment [1][2]. This article develops a conceptual review of how Zhuangzi's philosophy may inform integrative psychotherapy for depression. Through close reading of recurrent Zhuangzi themes and a focused synthesis of literature on cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Morita Therapy, and cultural psychiatry, the paper identifies three clinically relevant constructs: decentering from rigid self-identification, acceptance of change and limited control, and reconstruction of value beyond instrumental achievement. The analysis argues that Zhuangzi should not be treated as a stand-alone treatment or as an empirical substitute for evidence-based care. Rather, it can function as a culturally resonant interpretive framework, especially in contexts where patients struggle with rumination, perfectionism, and performance-contingent self-worth. The paper concludes by outlining a cautious agenda for theoretically grounded and culturally responsive integration.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic frame | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Yale Manual for Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy of Depression (using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a Therapeutic Frame) | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Neuroinflammation and neuroprogression in depression: Effects of alternative drug treatments | 2022 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Improving cognitive functioning in major depressive disorder with psychedelics: A dimensional approach | 2021 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |