Comparison of Components of Psychological Inflexibility in Students with Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and Normal Students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in the 2017-2018

According to the high prevalence of anxiety and depression disorders in college students and the role of psychological inflexibility in a wide range of psychological issues, the present study was conducted aiming at comparing components of psychological inflexibility in students with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and normal students. In this descriptive study, 30 individuals with major depression disorder, 30 individuals with generalized anxiety disorder and 30 individuals with social anxiety disorder were selected through purposive sampling and 30 normal individuals by available sampling method among students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in the 2017-2018 academic year. The required information was collected through demographic characteristics questionnaire and the comprehensive assessment of acceptance and commitment therapy processes. MANOVA and Scheffe’s test were used to analyze data. The findings of this study showed that normal individuals got significantly lower scores in all components of psychosocial inflexibility (p<0.001). Among the three groups of patients, depressed individuals got significantly higher scores in the cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance component (F=240.37, p<0.001) and patients with generalized anxiety disorder got significantly higher scores in the self-conceptualized and past and future domination component (F=108.76, p<0.001). According to the findings of this study, it seems that the components of psychological inflexibility can be considered as important factors in the psychopathology of individuals with depression and anxiety disorders.