Comparison of the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy, emotional schema therapy and drug therapy on the pain aspects of patients with fibromyalgia

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student, Department of Psychology, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal syndrome characterized by widespread pain, hotspots, fatigue, and sleep disturbances that also affects the psychological aspect of the individual; In addition to medication, psychotherapy can be used to treat patients with fibromyalgia. this study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy, emotional schema therapy and drug therapy on the pain aspects of patients with fibromyalgia.
Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with pre-test-post-test design with two experimental and control groups. From the community of women with fibromyalgia disorder in the city of Tehran in 1397-1398, 45 people were selected as a sample using the available sampling method and were randomly assigned to three research groups. A multifaceted (Cranes et al,1985) pain questionnaire was used to measure pain. Acceptance and commitment interventions, emotional schema therapy and medication were used for the experimental groups. The research data were analyzed using repeated measurements and follow-up tests.
Results: The results showed that the combination of acceptance and commitment therapy with drug therapy was more effective than drug therapy alone (p≤0/005). Also, combining schema, emotional therapy with drug therapy was more effective than drug therapy (p≤0/005). There was no significant difference between the combination of acceptance and commitment therapy with drug therapy and the combination of treatment plan and drug therapy (p≥0/005).
Conclusion: In order to improve patients with fibromyalgia, it is possible to use the treatment of acceptance and commitment, as well as emotional therapy plan along with medication.

Keywords


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