Comparative effectiveness of cognitive‑behavioral group therapy and reality therapy on the quality of life of patients with seborrheic dermatitis

 Skin diseases contribute to considerable psychological consequences and low quality of life (QOL) in these patients; it is believed that psychological status can be effective in the improvement of the disease.

Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effect of cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT) with reality therapy (RT) on QOL in patients with seborrheic dermatitis. Setting and Design: This semi‑experimental study with pre‑ and posttest conducted in the private clinics of Sari and Ghayemshahr.

Forty‑eight cases selected by purposive method and randomized in three groups of control, cognitive-behavioral, and RT. Participants in three groups’ evaluated pre-posttest and follow‑up (3 months after intervention) by skin QOL index Wang (1994). Intervention groups received 10 weeks intervention, whereas the control group did not receive any intervention during this study. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using SPSS-20 software through mixed covariance analysis.

There was no significant difference found between the two intervention groups (P > 0.05). The comparison of the effect size of two groups showed higher effect size for CBT group 0.81 versus 0.51.

According to the findings of the research, it can be concluded that CBT and RT are effective on QOL and severity of skin disease.