Fundamentals of Mental Health

Fundamentals of Mental Health

The effect of family-centered behavioral activation group training on psychological symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Shakila Yousefi 1
Mahdi Nayyeri 2
Mohammad Reza Seirafi 3
1 Department of Health Psychology, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish Island, Iran.
2 Department of Psychology, Torbat–e Jam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Torbat–e Jam, Iran.
3 Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.
10.22038/jfmh.2024.82354.3164
Abstract
Introduction: We aimed to assess the effect of family-centered behavioral activation group training on psychological symptoms in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
 
Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 MS patients in Torbat-e Jam City, Iran, in 2023-2024, were selected through the convenient sampling method and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received eight 90-minute family-centered behavioral activation training sessions for 3 months. We used Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the data were analyzed using variance analysis with repeated measurement.
 
Results: After the intervention, there was significant differences in depression (P< 0.01), anxiety (P< 0.01), and stress (P< 0.01) in the experimental group compared to the control group.
 
Conclusion: According to the results, family-centered behavioral activation training reduces psychological symptoms in MS patients. Therefore, behavioral activation is an effective intervention for improving the mental health of MS patients and can be integrated into the standard care of these patients.
Keywords
Behavioral activation
Family
Multiple sclerosis
Psychological symptoms
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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 26, Issue 6
2024
Pages 399-405