The effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy on posttraumatic stress disorder and loneliness among women affected by marital infidelity

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy on posttraumatic stress disorder and loneliness among women affected by marital infidelity. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. In this study the statistical population of women affected by the infidelity of Shahriar in the year 1400, using the convenience sampling method, 24 people were selected and randomly placed in two groups of 12 people. Data collection tools included the civilian Mississippi scale for PTSD (RCMD) of Norris and Perilla (1996) and the loneliness scale (UCLALS3) of Russell (1996). Then the experimental group received narrative exposure therapy for 8 weekly sessions for 90 minutes. but the control group received no intervention. The results showed that narrative exposure therapy had an effect on reducing posttraumatic stress and loneliness and the impact remained stable during the follow-up period (P<0.05). According to the findings of the present study, it seems that the role of narrative exposure therapy in reducing psychological and emotional problems in women affected by marital infidelity should be considered.