The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on quality of life in patient with myocardial infarction: a randomized control trial

Abstract

Background: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions increase psychological flexibility and improve mental health and quality of life in patients with MI. Study design: A controlled clinical trial study wasconducted to evaluate the efficacy of an ACT intervention in improving quality of life in patients with MI in Isfahan, Iran. Methods: The present controlled clinical trial with a pre-post-test design was conducted on a statistical population consisting of patients with MI admitted to hospitals in Isfahan (n=60) who were selected through sequential sampling based on the study inclusion criteria and were randomly divided into a case and a control group (n(1)=n(2)=30). The case group received eight weekly 90-minute sessions of ACT and the control group received no interventions. The pre-test and post-test were administered in both groups using a demographic questionnaire and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) designed to assess the health status of patients with heart failure in terms of quality of life. The data obtained were analyzed in SPSS-20 using descriptive statistics and the ANCOVA. Results: There was significant increase in quality of life and subscales of mental and physical health thereof, in experimental group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Considering the effectiveness of ACT in improving quality of life in these patients, this method of intervention can be used as a complementary therapy in healthcare centersto reduce the side-effects experienced by these patients.