Comparison of the effectiveness of spiritual therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy on lowering blood cortisol levels in women with breast cancer

Diagnosed with cancer is highly stressful. High stress can complicate other physical problems in patients with cancer through cortisol. Various psychological therapies have been proposed to intervene in reducing stress levels and, of course, to help these patients recover. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of spiritual therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy on lowering blood cortisol levels in women with breast cancer. For this purpose, during a quasi-experimental study with the control and follow-up group, 60 people (20 participants for first treatment group, 20 for second  treatment group, and 20 for control group) from breast cancer women in Tehran's Shohada Tajrish Hospital in Tehran were selected using convenient sample method. Random forms were used in three experimental and control groups. The two experimental groups treated with spiritual and cognitive-behavioural therapy during eight, 90-minute sessions, but the control group did not receive treatment. The groups were tested for blood cortisol levels before, after, and 2 months after the intervention. The results of covariance analysis showed that both spiritual and cognitive-behavioural therapies were effective in reducing the cortisol levels of patients in treatment groups, although spiritual therapy was evaluated as more effective, also,  the effectiveness was consistent in the follow-up test. This research supports the greater impact of spiritual interventions in reducing patients' stress levels.