The Effectiveness of Emotional Schemas Group Therapy on Pain and Depression in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of emotional schemas group therapy on pain and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The statistical population included all patients with rheumatoid arthritis referring to rheumatology clinics and rheumatology departments of Shiraz hospitals. 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were also afflicted with depression were randomly assigned into 3 experimental, placebo and control groups. The questionnaires were used in this study included McGill Pain Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory. Emotional schemas group therapy was conducted for 16 sessions of 2 hours and a half for experimental group only. For data analysis, covariance analysis and variance analysis with repeated measurements were used. The results showed that emotional schemas group therapy) had a significant effect on pain (sensory, emotional, cognitive, and general components), and depression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and reduced them, and their effects remained after 3 months follow up (p Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Emotional schemas therapy, Pain, depression.