The Effectiveness of Mentalization-Based Therapy (MBT) on Mental States and Quality of Life in Women with Hypothyroidism

Among patients with hypothyroidism, psychological problems and quality of life are two important variables. Therefore, the present research has investigated the effectiveness of mentalization-based therapy on mental status (depression and anxiety) and quality of life in women with hypothyroidism.

The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test & follow-up plan with a control group. The statistical population of the research included all women aged 20 to 60 with hypothyroidism who were referred to the Isfahan Mahdiyeh Center in 2022. Using the available sampling method, 100 people were selected. The participants’ mental states and quality of life were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Short-Form  World Health Organization‏ Quality-Of-Life‎ (WHO-QoL-BREF). Among the remaining 65 people based on the entry criteria, 30 people were selected and their depression and anxiety were confirmed by a psychiatrist, and they were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups of 15 people. Then the participants of the experimental group received MBT in 12 sessions of 90 minutes. In data analysis, analysis of variance with repeated measurement and LSD post hoc test were used.

The findings of the research showed that the average pre-test depression and anxiety scores of the experimental group decreased from 32-35 to 24-31, respectively, in the post-test stage. Also, comparing before and after the intervention, the average scores of the quality-of-life dimensions of the experimental group, including physical health, mental health, social relations, and environmental health, increased from 39, 44, 32, and 45 to 44, 50, 36, and 49, respectively. This situation has remained constant in the follow-up stage. Therefore, MBT is effective in reducing depression and anxiety and increasing the quality of life in women with hypothyroidism (p≤0.01).

Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that one of the effective educational approaches for women with hypothyroidism who are experiencing mood disturbances and a decreased quality of life is Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT). MBT can serve as a beneficial therapeutic model for prevention, helping to alleviate psychological disorders and enhance overall quality of life.