Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Cognitive Fusion with Illness and Illness-Related Fatigue in Patients with Cancer
Objective: The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of schema therapy on cognitive fusion with illness and illness-related fatigue in patients with cancer.
Materials and Methods: The research method employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest structure, a control group, and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population consisted of all patients with cancer who were referred to the Mazandaran Comprehensive Cancer Center in the second half of 2024. From among them, 30 patients with cancer were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (15 participants) or a control group (15 participants). The research instruments included the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, developed by Gillanders et al. (2014), and the Cancer Fatigue Scale, developed by Okuyama (2000). Young et al.’s (2003) schema therapy package was implemented in the form of eight 90-minute group sessions, held twice a week, for the experimental group, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance.
Findings: The results showed a significant difference between the groups in posttest and follow-up scores for cognitive fusion with illness and illness-related fatigue (P < 0.05). Additionally, the effects of schema therapy were maintained at follow-up (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: It can be concluded that schema therapy can be used as an effective method for reducing cognitive fusion with illness and illness-related fatigue in patients with cancer.
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