Clinical Evaluation of Rational Behavioral Emotional Therapy (REBT), Medication and Placebo on Reducing Psychological Distress

The family as the first social unit, has different tasks and functions related to the health of individuals and the main place to learn values, norms and the formation of interpersonal actions and interactions, in which logical and irrational beliefs are the most important factors of flexibility and Vulnerability in the family. The aim of this study was to reduce the psychological distress of the family with the aim of clinical evaluation of emotional behavioral rational therapy (REBT), medication and placebo.

This research was applied and quasi-experimental (pre-test-post-test with control group). The present study population was families with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder referred to Loghman Hospital in Tehran. After selecting the subjects according to the entry and exit criteria, 40 people were randomly assigned to four groups (medication, emotional rational behavior therapy, placebo, control group) equally (10 people in each group). To conduct this study, a pretest-posttest experimental design was performed using the Stress Anxiety Depression Scale (DASS) and after 3 months, a follow-up test was performed.

Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (at a significance level of 0.05) and using SPSS software version 26. The results showed that emotional rational behavioral therapy intervention was significant. It was effective in reducing patients' anxiety.

Emotional rational behavior therapy helps families to recognize their irrational beliefs more widely and reduces anxiety (self-blame) and hostility (blaming others and the world) to reduce psychological problems and increase family health.