Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy-Based Interventions on Emotion Regulation and Quality of Life in Patients with Renal Failure Undergoing Hemodialysis

Introduction: Renal failure and its long-term treatments, such as hemodialysis, impose significant psychological and emotional stress on patients, which can reduce their quality of life. In this context, utilizing modern psychotherapeutic approaches can help enhance patients’ psychological adaptation. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)-based interventions in improving emotion regulation and quality of life in patients with renal failure undergoing hemodialysis in Khoy.
Method: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest and control and experimental groups. The statistical population consisted of all patients with renal failure undergoing hemodialysis in Khoy. Using a convenience sampling method, a sample of 30 patients was selected and divided into two groups of 15 each. The research instruments included the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003) and the 36-item Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-36), administered as pretest and posttest.
Results: Findings indicated that DBT-based interventions significantly improved emotion regulation and enhanced quality of life in the experimental group compared to the control group.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, dialectical behavior therapy can be considered an effective approach for improving emotion regulation skills, reducing psychological distress, and enhancing the quality of life in patients with renal failure. Implementing this method in healthcare and rehabilitation centers can play an important role in providing psychological support for patients with chronic conditions.