The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on alexithymia, concern about body image and negative spontaneous thoughts in patients with diabetes in Gorgan city

Abstract

Background and Aim: Diabetes is one of the chronic diseases in the world. Economic growth, development of urban life, change in lifestyle, obesity and weight gain and decrease in activity of people are of special importance in the occurrence of diabetes. The present study was conducted with the aim of the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on dyslexia, concern about body image and negative spontaneous thoughts in patients with diabetes in Gorgan city. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with two experimental groups and a control group. The statistical population of this research included female patients aged 20 to 40 with type 2 diabetes who referred to Deziani Diabetes Clinic in Gorgan city in the summer quarter of 2011, their number was about 300. In the following, 30 patients were screened with Bagby et al.'s aphasia questionnaires (1994), Littleton's (2005) body image concerns, and Kendall and Hallon's (1980) negative spontaneous thoughts using purposive sampling as samples. were selected, and were randomly divided into two experimental (15 people) and control (15 people) groups. The subjects of the experimental group underwent acceptance and commitment therapy for 8 sessions (one 90-minute session per week for two months), and the control group did not receive any treatment. At the end of the treatment sessions, the subjects of both groups answered the mentioned questionnaires again as a post-test. Data analysis in this research was done using SPSS version 20 statistical software in two descriptive and inferential sections (MANCOVA multivariate covariance analysis test). Results: The results of data analysis showed that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) reduced Alexithymia and its components (difficulty in recognizing emotions, difficulty in describing emotions, externally oriented thinking), body image concerns and Its components (dissatisfaction and shame of the person with his appearance, interference in social functioning), negative spontaneous thoughts and its components (individual incompatibility and desire to change, negative self-concepts / negative expectations, low self-esteem, helplessness) in the subjects of the experimental group in The post-test stage was done. Conclusion: It can be concluded that ACT is effective on alexithymia, concern about body image and negative spontaneous thoughts in patients with diabetes.