The Effectiveness of Integrative psychotherapy on Body Image in women with systemic sclerosis (Scleroderma)

  Systematic scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune, complex and progressive disease that has many physical, psychological and social consequences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of integrated psychotherapy with the orientation of four common factors on reducing image body anxiety as well as its two sub-scales (the dissatisfaction and embarrassment of the person from their appearance and the interference of appearance anxiety in the social function of the individual) in women with Scleroderma. The research was a semi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test design in both experimental and control groups, and follow-up after 3 months of intervention. The statistical population included women with scleroderma referred to Shariati Hospital of Tehran and Iran's Rheumatism Center in 2017. Of these, 30 patients were selected as available samples and randomly were placed in two control and treatment (experiment) groups. The research tool was the Littleton's Body Image Questionnaire (2005). Data were analyzed by SPSS24 software and repeated measures analysis of variance after completing the questionnaires. Integrated psychotherapy with four common factors guidance reduced image body anxiety and its two sub-scales in women with systemic sclerosis, and this effect was lasting after three months. Throught this therapeutic approach, we can help to reduce the concern of the body image in patients with scleroderma