Comparing the Effectiveness of “Schema Therapy” and “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” on Emotional Regulation of Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder

Impaired emotional regulation is one of the problems of patients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. This research was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of "Schema Therapy" and "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" on emotional regulation of patients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.

The method of the current research was semi-experimental, pre-test, post-test and one-month follow-up with intervention and control groups. The statistical population included all patients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder who referred to psychological and counseling service centers in Tehran in 1400. Among them, 3 centers were selected as convenience, and 51 patients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder were selected based on the entry and exit criteria and by accessible sampling. Then, using a simple random method, they were assigned to 3 groups (17 people) “Schema Therapy, "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" and the control group. The research Instruments included a demographic questionnaire and "Difficulties Emotion Regulation Scale”. Face validity and reliability were checked by internal consistency method by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The "Schema Therapy" and "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" groups participated in 8 non-attendance sessions of 1.5 hours per week, and the control group was on the waiting list. The data were analyzed with SPSS. 25.

There was a significant difference between the intervention and control groups; and both interventions had a significant positive effect on the emotion regulation of patients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, and the effect of these therapeutic interventions was stable in the follow-up phase as well (P<0.05). Also, the results of Benferroni's post hoc test indicated that the effectiveness of "Schema Therapy" on emotion regulation was more than "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" (P<0.05).

"Schema Therapy" and "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" can regulate the emotions of patients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. It is suggested that therapists and counselors use these treatments in order to improve the emotion regulation of patients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder along with other therapeutic interventions.