講演情報
[SY-51-02]A century of Morita therapy: What has and has not changed
*MITSUHIRO NAKAMURA1,2 (1. Yokohama Camellia Hospital (Japan), 2. Shinano Mental Clinic (Japan))
キーワード：
Morita therapy、East Asia、Review
In 2023, we conducted a narrative review of English-language literature on Morita Therapy (MT) using clinical epidemiological methodology, with the aim of examining what has changed and what has not over the 100-year history of MT.
(Nakamura, M., Niimura, H., & Kitanishi, K. (2023). A century of Morita therapy: What has and has not changed. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 15(1), e12511. https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12511)
Classic inpatient MT, as practiced by Shoma Morita, was a highly structured and discipline-oriented treatment conducted in a family-like setting. It consisted of four stages: isolation rest, light monotonous work, labor-intensive work, and social integration. Central to its practice was the fumon (non-inquiry) principle and the theory of toraware (mental preoccupation), built upon concepts such as vicious cycle, contradiction by ideas, and the dynamic interplay of fear and desire. The therapeutic goal was achieving arugamama, or acceptance of reality as it is, through purposeful action.
Although the practice of classical inpatient MT has declined in Japan due to systemic and practical limitations, the theoretical foundation of MT has been refined and integrated into modern outpatient settings. Since the late 20th century, efforts have been made to formalize therapeutic techniques and training systems, leading to broader applicability in treating neurotic, mood, and personality disorders. Furthermore, conceptual comparisons with mindfulness and ACT have highlighted MT’s distinctive stance—particularly its focus on harmonizing fear and desire, and its grounding in an Eastern view of nature rather than emphasizing cognitive detachment or objectivity.
This presentation will also report on trends in English-language publications on MT since 2023, examining emerging applications and developments. These efforts underscore the continuing relevance of MT as a culturally grounded yet universally applicable psychotherapy, and the necessity of further clinical epidemiological evaluation to establish its global validity.
(Nakamura, M., Niimura, H., & Kitanishi, K. (2023). A century of Morita therapy: What has and has not changed. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 15(1), e12511. https://doi.org/10.1111/appy.12511)
Classic inpatient MT, as practiced by Shoma Morita, was a highly structured and discipline-oriented treatment conducted in a family-like setting. It consisted of four stages: isolation rest, light monotonous work, labor-intensive work, and social integration. Central to its practice was the fumon (non-inquiry) principle and the theory of toraware (mental preoccupation), built upon concepts such as vicious cycle, contradiction by ideas, and the dynamic interplay of fear and desire. The therapeutic goal was achieving arugamama, or acceptance of reality as it is, through purposeful action.
Although the practice of classical inpatient MT has declined in Japan due to systemic and practical limitations, the theoretical foundation of MT has been refined and integrated into modern outpatient settings. Since the late 20th century, efforts have been made to formalize therapeutic techniques and training systems, leading to broader applicability in treating neurotic, mood, and personality disorders. Furthermore, conceptual comparisons with mindfulness and ACT have highlighted MT’s distinctive stance—particularly its focus on harmonizing fear and desire, and its grounding in an Eastern view of nature rather than emphasizing cognitive detachment or objectivity.
This presentation will also report on trends in English-language publications on MT since 2023, examining emerging applications and developments. These efforts underscore the continuing relevance of MT as a culturally grounded yet universally applicable psychotherapy, and the necessity of further clinical epidemiological evaluation to establish its global validity.