Group and Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Based on Prisoner's Religious Knowledge

The Purpose of current article is to report a study on group, and individual cognative-behavioural psychotherapy in decreasing prisoner's psychological symptoms based on their religious knowledge. By using systematic sampling technique 45 male prisoners in Rajaei Shahr Prison was selected randomly and allocated into three groups: a) 15 participants was allocated in individual cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy alongside group cognitive-behavioral one based on participant's religious knowledge(combined therapy group); b) 15 participants took part in individual cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, based on participant's religious knowledge (individual therapy group);and c)15 participant was placed on the waiting list for obtaining individual therapy(control group). By using GHQ and SCL-90 tests, as well as a diagnostic interview done by a psychiatrist based on DSM-IV-TR criteria in pre and post period of recruiting interventions, participant's psychological status was measured. The data was analyzed by using Multiple Analysis of Variance. The findings indicated that although both of combined therapy approach and individual therapy one had immense influence on decreasing prisoner's psychological symptoms, the amount of effectiveness of combined therapy approach was higher than individual therapy was. One of the factors that have a remarkable impact on a successful cognitive therapy based on religious knowledge is the similarity of principles related to health psychology in cognitive-behavioural approach, and religious knowledge. Beck believes that a fruitful therapy happens when a patient approaches to realties. That point refers to aims, and consequences of saying prayers in Islam. Since Islam has an influential role in Iran culture, any kind of cognitive-behavioural intervention based on religious coulter have a considerable role in enhancing social-psycho adjustment for Iranian population.