This study was conducted to explore the outcome of psychotherapy in et
hnic Malays with strong religious and cultural background. The patient
s were divided into two groups. The study and control groups consisted
of 32 depressed patient each. In the study group brief psychotherapy
of 15-20 sessions was attempted with the addition of a religious persp
ective, while in the control group the religious perspective was omitt
ed. Patients in the study group showed more rapid improvement in the i
nitial 3 months of the study period than those in the control group, b
ut at the end of the 6 months the difference became nonsignificant.