The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Psychological Flexibility of Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction Psychological adjustment Acceptance and commitment therapy

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February 6, 2023
February 7, 2023

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Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a condition characterized by the death of heart muscle cells due to a lack of oxygen, frequently resulting in death. Disease and health-related beliefs may play a function in the progression of MI. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on psychological flexibility of patients with MI.

Methods: The current research was semi-experimental research with a control group. The statistical population included all patients with MI referred to Nasiriyah Heart Center, Nasiriyah, Iraq, in 2021 and 2022 (n = 473). In the current study, 90 individuals were selected by simple random sampling and divided evenly between intervention and control groups. The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI) was utilized for data collecting. Utilizing SPSS software, the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) method was performed. The statistical significance level was considered to be 0.05.

Results: Acceptance and commitment therapy was effective in psychological flexibility (F = 116.17, P < 0.001) in patients with MI. Besides, the results of a one-way ANCOVA indicated that the subscales, including avoidance (F = 8.27, P < 0.001), acceptance (F = 13.86, P < 0.001), and harnessing (F = 6.14, P < 0.001), improved significantly.

Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy has increased the psychological flexibility of patients with MI and is effective non-pharmaceutical therapy for the psychological management of these patients.

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