Effects of group therapy based on positive psychology on anxiety and pregnancy outcome in women undergoing IVF

Fatemeh Mehrabi¹ Fahimeh Mehrabi² Firouzeh Akbari Asbagh³ Fatemeh Davari Tanha⁴ Samaneh Hajimohammadbagher⁵

1) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IVF unit, Yas Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
2) Master of personality psychology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran,
3) Associated Professor of TUMS YAS Hospital Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tehran, Iran,
4) Associated Professor of TUMS YAS Hospital Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Tehran, Iran,
5) Master of Medical Engineering (Bioelectric), Member of Research Assistant of Medical Sciences University, Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran,

IOI Code : XCAZ-EFFFB
Publication : 2nd. International Congress on science & Engineering - paris(parisconf.com)
Abstract :
    Background: Psychological well-being could affect infertility treatment outcome. The purpose of this study was evaluating the effects of positive group therapy on anxiety and pregnancy outcome in women undergoing IVF/ICSI. Methods: Forty women referred to infertility clinic of Yas Hospital enrolled in this randomized clinical trial. They divided into two groups: Group one was the intervention group who received Ten weeks of psychotherapy. Group two was the control group. All participants asked to fill informed consent forms and filled valid and reliable Persian version of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) before study entry and after ten weeks. Results: BAI scores, chemical and clinical pregnancies compared between two groups. Mean age, a number of oocytes and BAI before the study were not significantly different between the two groups while meaning BAI after the study was significantly lower in the intervention group (24 vs 42). After the positive group therapy, anxiety (P= <.001) was significantly lower in the intervention group. Chemical and clinical pregnancy rates were not significantly different between the two groups but improved in the experimental group (P=.1). Conclusions: Group positive psychotherapy is a useful method to decrease anxiety level in infertile women, but its effect on pregnancy rate needs more studies.

Keywords : anxiety art ivf/icsi infertility group therapy based on positive psychology