Comparing the Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Metacognitive Therapy on Mind Wandering women with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Masoomeh Atashin Jabin; Alireza Zolfaghari; Mohammad Abbasi; Mehryar Anasseri

Authors

Masoomeh Atashin Jabin Department of Psychology, Ar.C., Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9623-5001
Alireza Zolfaghari Department of Psychology, Tu.C., Islamic Azad University, Tuyserkan, Iran. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8183-8440
Mohammad Abbasi Department of Psychology, Ar.C., Islamic azad University, Arak, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0801-148X
Mehryar Anasseri Department of Psychology, Ash.C., Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1677-7012

Keywords:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Metacognitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mind Wandering

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy and metacognitive therapy on mind wandering in women with generalized anxiety disorder. The research method was a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group with a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population included women with generalized anxiety disorder who referred to the Avaye Doron and Tarnam Zeingde clinics in Tehran between March 2023 and May 2024. The research sample consisted of 45 women who were selected purposively and based on entry criteria and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and a control group (15 people in each group). The first experimental group underwent 8 sessions of dialectical behavior therapy in a group setting. The second experimental group underwent 8 sessions of metacognitive therapy in a group setting. Data were collected using the Mind Wandering Questionnaire Mrazek et al., 2013). Data analysis was performed using the repeated measures analysis of variance statistical method. The findings showed that in the experimental groups, the scores of mind wandering in the post-test and follow-up were significantly different compared to the pre-test (P<0.05). It was also found that there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy and metacognitive therapy on mind wandering (P>0.05). Overall, the results indicated the same effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy and metacognitive therapy on mind wandering in women with generalized anxiety disorder.

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