The Effectiveness of Skills Trainings based on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy on Signs of State and Anxiety among Patients with Pituitary Adenoma Tumor

Although pituitary adenoma is usually benign, it may cause clear clinical symptoms due to hormonal changes or imposing pressure on the adjacent tissues. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of skills trainings based on dialectical behavioral therapy on signs state and trait anxiety among patients with pituitary adenoma tumor in Tehran.

This study was of semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and control group. The statistical population of the study included all patients with pituitary adenoma tumor in Tehran in 2018. Participants included 30 people who were selected by convenience sampling method and the intervention was conducted for the experimental group. As many as 30 patients in the experimental group and 30 in the control group were randomly assigned. Data were collected via an impulsivity Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Data analysis was performed using multivariate covariance analysis and one way analysis of covariance by SPSS software version 18.

The mean (SD) score of cognitive impulsivity of the experimental group was 26.5 (9.1) in the pretest, which decreased to 21.4 (7.7) in the post-test (P<0.01), motor impulsivity in the pre-test was 20.8 (4.1) which decreased to 16.7 (3.7) in the post-test (P<0.01), and the unplanned in experimental group in pre-test was 36.2 (6) which decreased to 29.9 (6.3) at post-test (P<0.01); however, the mean (SD) score of the control group in the pre-test and post-test was not statistically significant. The mean (SD) score of state anxiety in the experimental group was 49.1 (8.4), which decreased to 41.7 (8.6) in post-test (P<0.01), trait anxiety of experimental group in the pre-test was 53.3 (12.3) which decreased to 46.2 (11) in the post-test (P<0.01); however, the mean (SD) score of control group in the pre-test and post-test was not statistically significant.

The study showed that dialectical behavioral therapy was effective on symptoms of state-trait anxiety and impulsivity among patients with pituitary adenoma tumor.