Comparing the Effectiveness of Ayurveda, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Combining These Two Treatments with Each Other on Anxiety in Depressed Women

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders a high percentage of patients with depression (two-thirds of them) have prominent anxiety symptoms. Hence, the existence of a natural, simple, accessible, and affordable treatment method is required by every person suffering from depression. The purpose of the study is to compare the effectiveness of Ayurveda knowledge as a complementary medicine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and the combination of the two, on reducing anxiety in depressed women.

The research was a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test type with a control group. The statistical population includes 40 women aged 45-25 who were diagnosed with moderate depression by a psychiatrist and took the Beck depression test. They volunteered to participate in this research by filling and signing the informed consent form. Participants were placed in four groups of 10 people with a simple random allocation method, underwent cognitive-behavioral therapy, Ayurveda and combination of the two for 10 weeks based on the protocols. Data collection tools were Beck depression inventory (BDI-II) (1996) & Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (1983). The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures.

The intergroup effect test was significant in state anxiety (P=0.003) and trait anxiety (P<0.001). The partial ETA value indicated that approximately 31% of the variation in state anxiety and 46% in trait anxiety could be explained by the treatment groups. The results of comparing the averages between the groups with Tukey's test showed that there was a significant difference in trait anxiety between cognitive-behavioral therapy and Ayurvedic therapy as well as combined therapy (1.53 ± 7.4) (P<0.001). ), also there was a significant difference in state anxiety between cognitive-behavioral therapy and Ayurvedic treatment 1.88 ± 5.43 and between cognitive-behavioral therapy and combined therapy 1.88 ± 7.133 (p=0.003). There was no significant difference between the experimental group of Ayurveda and combined treatment. (P = 1.00)

According to the obtained results, the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and Ayurveda can have a better and more stable effect in reducing the anxiety of depressed women.