The effect of self-management training based on cognitive behavioral group therapy on components of adult’s metabolic syndrome – A randomized clinical trial

Metabolic syndrome is one of the biggest potential public health problems in the world and a risk factor for non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of self-management training based on cognitive-behavioral group therapy on the components of metabolic syndrome in adults.

The present study was a randomized clinical trial. The sample size consisted of 80 adults 30 to 70 years old with metabolic syndrome who were randomly assigned to intervention and control with 40 adult in each group. Measurement of waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, blood triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein were performed and recorded in two stages before the intervention and three months after the intervention. Training sessions were conducted in 8 sessions for the intervention group. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Chi-square, independent t-test and analysis of covariance.

The results showed that self-management training based on group cognitive-behavioral therapy in adult with metabolic syndrome had the most significant effect on the components of the metabolic syndrome, including reduction of fasting blood sugar with an effect size of 0.28, reduction of triglyceride with 0.19, increase of HDL with 0.12, decrease of systolic blood pressure 0.15 and decrease of waist circumference with 0.10 (P <0.05), But it did not significantly reduce diastolic blood pressure (P <0.05).

Considering the effectiveness of self-management training based on cognitive behavioral group therapy on improving the components of metabolic syndrome, it is suggested that the identification of adults with metabolic syndrome be considered and effective educational interventions such as self-management training based on cognitive behavioral therapy while controlling the components of this risky syndrome and self-care of metabolic syndrome in adults, reduced the risk of non-communicable diseases morbidity.