A Comparative Study of the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Spiritual-Religious Psychotherapy on Covert Anxiety Reduction

This semi-experimental research is an attempt to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and spiritual-religious psychotherapy on reducing the covert anxiety level of male students residing in dormitory of Allameh Tabatabai University. Using Cattels Anxiety Scale Questionnaire, 45 students with covert anxiety were randomly placed in three groups (cognitive-behavioral therapy, spiritual-religious psychotherapy and control). Members of the first two groups collectively received therapy for two hours each week (12 sessions). At the end of the therapeutic intervention, all of the three groups were assessed again. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Result showed no significant difference between the two therapeutic methods in reducing the anxiety level while both of them were significantly effective in reducing the student's level of covert anxiety.