Comparing the Effects of Cognitive Hypnotherapy and Spiritual Therapy on Death Anxiety in Women With Breast Cancer

Objective :

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and has many psychological complications. This study aims to compare the effects of cognitive hypnotherapy (CT) and spiritual therapy (ST) on death anxiety in women with breast cancer. 

Methods :

This is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design. The study population consists of all women with breast cancer referred to Mirdamad medical center in Gorgan, Iran. Of these, 30 patients were selected by a convenience sampling method and were divided into two experimental groups of CT (n=10), ST (n=10) and one control group (n=10). The groups were evaluated for death anxiety before and after the interventions. The used instrument was Collet-Lester fear of death scale.

Results:

 The results showed that both CH and ST had a significant positive effect on death anxiety of patients, and there was no significant difference between them.

Conclusion :

Both CH and ST are effective in reducing fear of own death, fear of the process of own dying, fear of the death of others, and fear of the process of others dying in women with breast cancer. There is no significant difference between them.