The Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Dysfunctional Attitudes and Emotional Dysregulation in Patients with Persistent Depressive Disorder

This study was undertaken with the primary objective of assessing the efficacy of schema therapy in addressing dysfunctional attitudes and emotional dysregulation among patients diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder. The research methodology employed in this investigation followed a semi-experimental approach, incorporating a pre-test and post-test design encompassing both experimental and control groups. The study's target population consisted of all individuals diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder who sought treatment at psychology and psychiatry clinics in Tehran in 2022. From this population, a sample of 30 participants was selected using an accessible sampling method and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID) was taken from the participants. To gather data and evaluate relevant attributes and conditions, a semi-structured clinical interview demographic form and the second version of the Beck Depression Inventory were administered. Moreover, for the analysis of research hypotheses, statistical methods including the ANCOVA analysis test and paired t-tests were applied through the SPSS-16 statistical software. The findings of this study indicated that schema therapy significantly influenced the levels of dysfunctional attitudes and emotional dysregulation in patients with persistent depressive disorder.