Comparing the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy on Worry Severity and Loneliness Among the Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Aims: Because of the increasing number of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the psychological complications that affect this group, the current study has compared the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) on these patients. Methods & Materials: This research is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-post-test design and a control group. A total of 45 patients with MS were selected from the patients of an MS Clinic in Tehran City, Iran, in 2019. Then, they were randomly divided into two experimental groups of ACT and CFT and one control group. The participants completed the social and emotional loneliness scale for adults and the Penn State worry questionnaire before and after the intervention. The experimental groups participated in eight sessions of ACT and ten sessions of CFT. The control group did not receive any intervention, and in the end, a post-test was taken. The obtained data were examined by analysis of covariance Findings: Findings obtained from univariate analysis of covariance at the statistical level of P<0.05 were F=42.60 for loneliness and F=5.90 for worry, which indicates the more effectiveness of ACT. Conclusion: It is suggested that ACT treatment be given more attention in controlling patients’ psychological symptoms.