F
Hengameh Boloorsaz Mashhadi; Eisa Jafari; Ali Moghadamzadeh
Abstract
Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the chronic diseases that affects various aspects of human life in old age and causes many problems, physical disabilities and negative psychological consequences. Therefore, it is important to investigate and identify educational and therapeutic protocols to ...
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Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the chronic diseases that affects various aspects of human life in old age and causes many problems, physical disabilities and negative psychological consequences. Therefore, it is important to investigate and identify educational and therapeutic protocols to reduce psychosocial problems in elderly people. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on anxiety sensitivity, pain perception and emotion management in elderly women with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Method: The method of the current research was, semi-experimental with pre-post-test design, two experimental and control groups. The statistical population included all elderly women with Rheumatoid Arthritis who referred to Milad Hospital`s clinical centers in Tehran (1401). 28 people were selected by available sampling method and randomly assigned to two groups of 14 people. Consent and desire to participate, 60 years and older age range, gender (female) and ability to participate in treatment sessions were the inclusion criteria for the research. Individual's lack of consent and desire to cooperate, suffering from psychiatric disorders, receiving other psychological interventions at the same time or in the last 6 months were the exclusion criteria. Acceptance and commitment therapy was implemented according to Hayes and Strossal (2013) treatment protocol. This procedure was conducted with the aim of improving the psychological conditions of participants during 8 sessions of each 90 minutes (1.5 hours). The control group, did not receive any interventions. Data were collected by Anxiety Sensitivity Questionnaire (Peterson and Reiss, 1992), Standard Pain Intensity Questionnaire (Quebec et al., 1995) and Emotion Regulation difficulty Questionnaire (Gratz & Roemer, 2004). In order to analyze the data, independent and paired t-tests of multivariate analysis of covariance were used by SPSS/26 statistical software. Results: The results of the research showed that the mean score of anxiety sensitivity in the experimental group in the post-test stage had a significant difference compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, the analysis of covariance showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the mean score of perceived pain intensity and emotional management of the two groups in the post-test stage (P<0.05). It can be said that Acceptance and Commitment therapy has reduced anxiety sensitivity and pain perception, as well as emotional management in elderly women with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Conclusion: The results indicated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is effective in reducing anxiety sensitivity, pain perception and emotion management of elderly women suffering Rheumatoid Arthritis. According to the obtained results, it is suggested, professionals who involve in the field of elderly mental health should provide the necessary platform for improving the mental health of these people. which it can be done by reducing the level of anxiety sensitivity and pain perception and emotion management. The results of this research can provide practical implications for therapists to reduce the patients emotional-behavioral problems who suffer Rheumatoid Arthritis, especially in elderly women. It must be said that these therapies would be effective along with drug therapy.
