Comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and spirituality therapy on fear of recurrence and death anxiety in cancer patients
Keywords:
Schema therapy, Spirituality Therapy, Fear of relapse, Death anxiety, CancerAbstract
Background and Objective: Fear of recurrence and death anxiety are among the most common psychological problems in cancer patients. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and spirituality therapy on reducing these symptoms in cancer patients.
Method: This quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group was conducted on 45 cancer patients referred to Tehran medical centers in 1403. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: schema therapy (n=15), spirituality therapy (n=15), and control (n=15). The experimental groups received 12 intervention sessions, respectively. The research instruments included the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) and Death Anxiety Inventory (DAS) questionnaires. The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance.
Findings: The results showed that both treatment methods were effective in reducing fear of recurrence and death anxiety. Schema therapy was more effective than spirituality in reducing fear of recurrence. In contrast, spirituality was superior to schema therapy in reducing death anxiety. The effect sizes of the interventions were calculated for fear of recurrence and death anxiety. Conclusion: The findings show that although both treatment methods are effective, schema therapy is considered to be more optimal for reducing fear of recurrence and spirituality is considered to be more optimal for reducing death anxiety. The combination of these two methods can be considered as a comprehensive protocol in psychological interventions for cancer patients.
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References
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