The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based behavioral therapy on depression, anxiety and sexual satisfaction in patients with premature coronary heart disease

Sexual dysfunction is one of the chronic complications of premature coronary heart disease and is often overlooked in the care of premature coronary heart disease patients. And sexual satisfaction was premature in coronary heart disease patients.

This study was a quasi-experimental study. The statistical population was all male patients with premature coronary heart disease less than 50 years old who referred to Shahid Rajaei Hospital in Tonekabon in the summer of 1397. 24 patients with premature coronary heart disease were selected by available sampling method. Then they were randomly assigned to the experimental group (under acceptance and commitment behavior therapy) (n = 20) and the control group (n = 20). Data collection tools were the standard Sex Questionnaire (MSQ) of Snell and Fischer Walters (1993), in three baseline stages, after quarterly intervention and follow-up. Data analysis was performed using repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance.

The results showed that in the group undergoing behavior therapy based on acceptance and commitment, the mean score of sexual anxiety and depression as well as sexual satisfaction in the experimental group compared to the control group decreased and increased significantly (P <0.001).

The results of this study showed that behavioral therapy based on acceptance and commitment can be effective in improving sexual anxiety and depression as well as sexual satisfaction in men with premature coronary heart disease.