Determining the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on anxiety and lack of tolerance of uncertainty in patients with hypertension

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MS. in clinical psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran

2 MS. in educational psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on anxiety and lack of tolerance of uncertainty in patients with hypertension.
 
Materials and Methods: The statistical population of this clinical study consisted of all patients with hypertension who had been extracted from Shahid Beheshti hospital in Babul during the three months from September to November 2013. Among them, 32 patients were selected using non-random sampling method and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Data were collected through Beck Anxiety Scale and Uncertainty Tolerance Questionnaire. Covariance analysis was used to compare the mean scores of experimental and control groups.
 
Results: The results of the covariance test showed that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduced anxiety and lack of tolerance of uncertainty in the experimental group significantly (P<0.05).
 
Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that the use of mindfulness-based therapies can have a direct effect on reducing anxiety and lack of tolerance uncertainty in patients with hypertention.

Keywords


  1. Gaziano TA, Bitton A, Anand S, Abrahams-Gessel S, Murphy A. Growing epidemic of coronary heart disease in low-and middle-income countries. Curr Prob Cardiol 2010; 35(2): 115-72.
  2. Plantinga Y, Ghiadoni L, Magagna A, Giannarelli C, Franzoni F, Taddei S, et al. Supplementation with vitamins C and E improves arterial stiffness and endothelial function in essential hypertensive patients. Am J Hypertension 2007; 20: 392-7
  3.  Mortehi MR, Feizi A, Bagherinejad M. [Evaluation of prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes and factors related to their occurrence based on a large study on the general population of Isfahan-applied regression model]. New psychological research 2012; 6: 156-65. (Persian)
  4. Tizdail J. [A metacognitive window]. Younesi SJ, Rahimian Booger I, Mashmand AH. Tehran: Dengue; 2008: 121-9.
  5.  Mahmood Allylu M, Shahevi T, Hashemi Z. [Comparison of uncertainty tolerance, cognitive avoidance, negative orientation to problem and positive beliefs about worries among patients with generalized anxiety disorder and normal people]. New psychological research 2010; 5: 167-85. (Persian)
  6. Jonassaint RR, Why YP, Bishop GD, Tong EM, Diong SM, Enkelmann HC, et al. The effects of neuroticism and extraversion on cardiovascular reactivity during a mental and an emotional stress task. Int J Psychophysiol 2009; 74(3): 274-9.
  7. Bakhtiari A, Abedi A. [Effectiveness of group therapy- Based on the meta-cognitive pattern of discrete mindfulness depression and hypertension in women with hypertension. Journal of clinical psychology research and consulting 2013; 3: 2. (Persian)
  8.  Fahimi S, Mahmoud Alilo M, Khanli R, Fakhari M, Pour Sharifi H.[Hypothermia intolerance as a susceptible feature of diffuse anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic]. Journal of research in behavioral sciences 2014; 11: 4. (Persian)
  9. Loebach Wetherell J, Gatz M. The Beck anxiety inventory in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 2005; 27(1): 17-24.
  10.  Freeston MH, Rheaume J, Letarte H, Dugas MJ, Ladouceur R. Why do people worry? Pers Individ Diff 1994; 17: 791-802.
  11. Tolin DF, Abramowitz JS, Brigidi BD, Foa EB. Intolerance of uncertainty in obsessive-compulsive disorder. J Anxiety Disord 2003; 17: 233-42.
  12.  Dugas MJ, Buhr K, Ladouceur R. The role of intolerance of uncertainty in etiology and maintenance; 2004.
  13.  Dugas MJ, Schwartz A, Francis K. Intolerance of uncertainty, worry, and depression. Cogn Ther Res 2004; 28: 835-42.
  14.  Tang TN, Tang CS. Gender role internalization, multiple roles, and Chinese women’s mental health Psychol Woman Q 2001; 25: 181-96.
  15. Grandma JE. Intolerance of uncertainty: a cognitive vulnerability that predisposes individuals to develop social anxiety disorder? A dissertation presented to the faculty of the department of psychology. University of Houston; 2011.
  16. Gu J, Strauss C, Bond R, Cavanagh K. How do mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and wellbeing? A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies. Clin Psychol Rev 2015; 37: 1-12.