Comparison of the effect of mentalization-based therapy and supportive psychotherapy on object relations in people with coronary heart disease

Aim:

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of mentalization-based therapy and supportive psychotherapy on object relations in people with coronary heart disease.

Background:

 Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of disability and death in different countries of the world and despite the development of various treatments, it is still highly prevalent.

Method:

This experimental study was conducted in the form of the pretest-posttest design with control group and follow-up stage. The statistical population consisted of all people with coronary heart disease who referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ardabil during 2018. Of this statistical population, 60 people were selected through purposive sampling and according to inclusion criteria, and were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (20 people in each group). Finally, 55 people remained until the end of interventions and evaluations. The first experimental group received 12 sessions of mentalization-based therapy, the second experimental group received 10 sessions of supportive psychotherapy, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Bell Object Relations Questionnaire was used for data collection in three stages of pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and LSD post-hoc test using SPSS statistical software (version 22).

Findings:

After controlling the pre-test effects, a statistically significant difference was found between the post-test mean scores of the experimental groups (mentalization -based therapy: F=19.69, P≤0.0001; and supportive psychotherapy: F=28.86, P≤0.0001) and the control group (F=0.87, P<0.43) in terms of object relations and its components. Also, the effect of supportive psychotherapy on object relations of patients with coronary heart disease was higher than that of mentalization -based therapy (P<0.01).

Conclusion:

The results of the present study provides the basis for using these interventions in people with coronary heart disease.