The Effectiveness of Paradox Therapy on Anxiety Symptoms in Diabetic Patients
Subject Areas : Psychology
Bahar Rafiezadeh
1
,
Mohammad Ali Besharat
2
*
,
Hojjatollah Farahani
3
1 - , Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran;
2 - Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
3 - Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Paradox Therapy, Anxiety, Diabetes ,
Abstract :
Chronic diabetes, as a disease with increasing global prevalence, subject patients to numerous psychological challenges, among which the development of various anxiety disorders is particularly significant. Conversely, paradoxical therapy, known for its simplicity, efficiency, brevity, and cost-effectiveness, is supported by extensive research evidence regarding its effectiveness in treating anxiety disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of paradoxical therapy on anxiety symptoms in diabetic patients. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up periods of one and three months. A total of 36 anxious diabetic patients were selected through purposive sampling. Participants completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) questionnaire. Paradoxical therapy was administered in six bi-weekly sessions for all participants. The research data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA. The findings demonstrated that paradoxical therapy effectively reduces anxiety symptoms in diabetic individuals, with no evidence of symptom relapse in the one-month and three-month follow-ups. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that paradoxical therapy can serve as an effective method for reducing anxiety symptoms in diabetic patients.