Analyzing the Effect of Poetry on Decreasing Depression and Increasing Optimism

Poetry is one of the seven arts and critics have always attended to its aesthetic features. The greatest modern scientific achievement of literature has been the discovery of the therapeutic quality of poetry. Poetry therapy as a new treatment for patients suffering from depression began in the US where it produced positive results. In this article, the authors investigate poetry in a different way. Statistical Society is composed of 30 adult people who attended 8 sessions of poetry therapy. Also, poems are selected from the ones with controversial themes. According to depression pretests and post-tests, the following results were suggested: 1. Depressed men and women have an impressive behavior towards poetry. 2. Poems with controversial themes can decrease the tensions. 3 Men are more prone to be affected by poetry therapy than women. 4. Poetry is effective in increasing men and women's optimism. Seemingly, further research about the style and the way of reading Persian poetry and introducing this proposed type of therapy to the world will help to institutionalize poetry therapy in health and medical centers in the country.