The Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy on Psychological Distress Individuals with Leprosy in Tabriz

The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy on psychological distress in individuals with leprosy in the city of Tabriz. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test control group. The statistical population included all individuals with leprosy in Tabriz in 2024. After clinical interviews and considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental (16 people) and control (16 people) groups. Both groups were assessed using the Lovibond and Lovibond (1995) Psychological Distress Questionnaire. The experimental group underwent eight sessions of compassion-focused therapy over two months, each lasting 90 minutes and conducted weekly in a group therapy format. At the end of the treatment period, both groups completed the Psychological Distress Questionnaire again. Data were analyzed using multivariate covariance analysis. The results of the data analysis showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of psychological distress in individuals with leprosy (P<0.01). After the therapy, psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) in the experimental group significantly decreased compared to the pre-test and control group. Therefore, the findings of this study indicate that compassion-focused therapy affects psychological distress in individuals with leprosy. The results of this study also demonstrate some of the capabilities of this method in treating psychological distress and suggest its application as an effective therapy for individuals with leprosy.