Effectiveness of Integrative Schema Therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Women with Breast Cancer

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student in psychology, Department of Psychology, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran. (Corresponding Author)

3 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran.

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Fear of cancer recurrence is one of the primary concerns among cancer patients, often leading to significant anxiety. Therefore, addressing this issue is crucial for improving the well-being of patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of integrative schema therapy with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the fear of cancer recurrence in women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Methods: This study utilized a semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up assessments, including a control group. The target population consisted of all women diagnosed with breast cancer in Yazd city. Thirty participants were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). Two participants from the experimental group and two from the control group dropped out during the follow-up phase. Data were collected using the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Questionnaire developed by Simard and Savard (2009). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26 and mixed variance analysis tests.
Results:  The results of data analysis revealed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of fear of cancer recurrence following the integrative schema therapy sessions combined with acceptance and commitment therapy. Furthermore, the findings from the follow-up phase indicated that the reduction in fear of cancer recurrence observed in the experimental group remained stable over time.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that integrative schema therapy with acceptance and commitment therapy had a significant effect on reducing the fear of cancer recurrence among women diagnosed with breast cancer. These results emphasize the potential efficacy of integrating different therapeutic approaches in addressing psychological concerns in cancer patients.

Keywords

References

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medical journal of mashhad university of medical sciences
Volume 66, Issue 2
July and August 2023
Pages 260-270

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