A comparative study on effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and logotherapy on symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress of women suffering relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial study

In recent years, psychological therapies increasingly used as complementary treatment along medication to help clinicians. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two methods of group psychotherapy: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and logo therapy (LT) on the symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress in women with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS).

A sampling method was used to select 45 women from multiple sclerosis patients in Kermanshah (Iran). They were randomly assigned into two groups of experimental and one control group (n = 15 in each group). The first experimental group received 8 group sessions of ACT treatment. The second experimental group received 10 group sessions of LT as well, while the control group had just 8 simple group meeting with the therapist. All subjects completed Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Scales (DASS-42) before, after and three months after the application.

The mean of symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress in both experimental groups after intervention was significantly different with the mean of control group. However, no significant difference was observed between two experimental groups.

Logo therapy and ACT are effective in decreasing the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in women with RRMS and could be recommended as adjunct therapies along with their medication.