Comparing the effectiveness of ‘Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based on self-compassion’ VS ‘Schema Therapy’ on psychological well-being in women suffering chronic fatigue syndrome and intimate

The main purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of ‘Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based on self-compassion’ VS ‘Schema Therapy’ on psychological well-being in women suffering chronic fatigue syndrome and intimate partner violence.

The basis of this study was semi-experimental research, using a pretest / posttest design with a control group. The sample consisted of 60 women suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome who also experienced violence from their husbands. This group was selected using a purposive sampling technique. The research tools included the Psychological Welfare Questionnaire, the Iranian version of Conflict Resolution Tactics from with revised scales, and the Chronic Fatigue Questionnaire. The ‘Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based on self-compassion’ and ‘Schema Therapy’ were implemented for the two experimental groups and no intervention was performed for the control group.

The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that both ‘ACT therapy’ and ‘Schema Therapy’ led to a signi ficant increase in well-being scores (0/35) and four components of independence (0/57), environmental mastery (0/24), positive relationship with others (0/28) and being purposeful in life (0/21). The results also showed that both ‘Schema Therapy’ and ACT therapy’ had similar effectiveness in well-being and environmental mastery; While ‘ACT therapy’ proved to be more effective in other variables, namely independence, positive relationship with others, and being purposeful in life (p>0/05).

We can use both ‘Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based on self-compassion’ and ‘Schema Therapy’ to improve psychological components in people who are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and people who has experienced partner violence.