The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Psychological Distress, Alexithymia, and Spiritual Health in Women with Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) can be aggravated due to stress, depression, anxiety, emotional and spiritual problems. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on psychological distress, alexithymia, and spiritual health among women with CVD. Materials and Methods: The current research adopted a randomized controlled clinical trial, employing a pre-test-post-test design along with a control group. The statistical population comprised women with CVD residing in the ۶th district of Tehran during August and September ۲۰۲۱. The research sample comprised ۳۰ women with CVD who were selected using purposive sampling and divided into experimental groups (n=۱۵) and control group (n=۱۵). The experimental group received eight ۹۰-minute sessions of ACT, but the control group did not receive any intervention. The data collection process included utilizing questionnaires to measure psychological distress, Toronto alexithymia, and spiritual health. The data collected were subsequently subjected to analysis using multivariate analysis of covariance SPSS-۲۴. Results: The results showed that ACT significantly decreases anxiety (F=۳۴.۷۱, P=۰.۰۰۱, η۲=۰.۶۳), stress (F=۳۰.۱۴, P=۰.۰۰۱, η۲=۰.۶۰), depression (F=۴۸.۳۴, P=۰.۰۰۱, η۲=۰.۷۱), difficulty identifying feelings (F=۲۸.۸۰, P=۰.۰۰۱, η۲=۰.۵۹), difficulty describing feelings (F=۴۴.۳۰, P=۰.۰۰۱, η۲=۰.۶۸), externally oriented thinking (F=۳۶.۵۰, P=۰.۰۰۱, η۲=۰.۶۸), and increases existential health (F=۳۷.۶۹, P=۰.۰۰۱, η۲=۰.۶۶), and religious health (F=۲۴.۵۶, P=۰.۰۰۱, η۲=۰.۵۵) in women with CVD (P<۰.۰۱). Conclusion: ACT offers promising prospects for improving the psychological, emotional, and spiritual health of women living with CVD. By promoting acceptance, emotional awareness, and committed action, ACT empowers women to cope effectively with psychological distress, address alexithymia, and nurture their spiritual well-being.

کلیدواژه ها:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ، Psychological Distress ، Alexithymia ، Spiritual Health ، Cardiovascular Disease