Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy on irrational beliefs of medical students

Abstract

Background and Objective: Irrational beliefs underlie a wide range of cognitive impairments. This study was performed to compare the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on irrational beliefs of medical students. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 45 medical students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences in north of Iran were non-randomly divided into control, cognitive-behavioral therapy (first intervention) and acceptance, commitment therapy (second intervention) groups. All three groups completed the pre-test, but the control group did not receive any therapy. The intervention groups were received 8 sessions of therapy. The data were collected through Jones's 1969 (IBQ-40) irrational beliefs questionnaire. Results: The total score of irrational beliefs in the both intervention groups were reduced in comparison with control group (P<0.05). The mean score of the problem-based avoidance subscale (35.26±6.32) was significantly reduced in the second intervention group compared to the first intervention group (30.53±9.47) (P<0.05). Also, the mean scores of emotional impulsivity in the first intervention group (22.73±9.49) were significantly increased compared to the second intervention group (29.93±1.75) (P<0.05). Conclusion: Two methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy reduce the irrational beliefs of medical students.

Keywords

• Irrational belief
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Acceptance and commitment therapy
• Medical students