Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on reduction of distress of patients infected by breast cancer in Martyrs Hospital (AS), Isfahan, Iran

Elham Yousefi¹ Zahra Tajmiirriahi² Fateme Razi³

1) Department of psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Najaf Abad, Isfahan, Iran
2) Department of psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Najaf Abad, Isfahan, Iran
3) Department of psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Najaf Abad, Isfahan, Iran

Publication : 2nd International Conference on Behavioral Science and Social Studies(2ibsconf.com)
Abstract :
The cancer involves its infected people in all mental pressures; the pressures that affect their life, job and social relationships and if they are not solved, complicate the patient’s status. Cognition therapy based on mindfulness is a method to reduce the distress. The objective of this study is to investigate the Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on reduction of distress of patients infected by breast cancer in Isfahan. Data collection tool: For this purpose, 45 women infected by breast cancer hospitalized in Martyrs Hospital (AS) of Esfahan were selected through convenient method and processed randomly In three groups of 15 subjects: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and control. Before and after mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy training, the groups were tested with respect to the distress level. Mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy was trained to the test group during 8 sessions each 1 hour. The results were analyzed using analysis of variance.Findings: The summary of ANCOVA between three groups of distress scores of testees in both pretest and posttest stages indicated that training the mindfulness has been effective (p<0/05) on reduction of distress scores of trained patients. Conclusions: practices and trainings based on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy were influential on cognitive system and information processing by escalating the participants awareness of the present moment, through special techniques such as focusing on the breath and body and being aware of here and now. Therefore, considering the positive effect of these two types of practice and training in treating distress of patients infected by breast cancer, widespread usage of these ways is recommended and this intervention method may be used independently or along with other treatment methods such as pharmacotherapy to reduce the distress of these sufferers.
Keywords : Mindfulness cognitive behavioral therapy Distress Breast Cancer