Community Health Journal

Community Health Journal

The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Decreasing the Intensity of the Symptoms of Trichotillomania and Depression: A Single Case Study

Authors
B Behrouz 1
N Heidarizadeh 2
S Jalalian 3
F Bavali 4
1 Lecturer, Dept. of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Payame Noor, Tehran, Iran.
2 Lecturer Dept. of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Payame Noor, Tehran, Iran.
3 M.A Counseling, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch Kermanshah, Iran.
4 Lecturer, Dept. of Psychology, University of Scientific and Applied of Judiciary, Busher, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Treatment of trichotillomania is one of the most challenging clinical and mental health topics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on deceasing the intensity of the symptoms of trichotillomania and depression.

Materials and Methods: The research was single-case design by A-B. A 20-year-old female client diagnosed with trichotillomania on the basis of clinical interview based on DSM-V, trichotillomania questionnaire (MGH-HS), and beck depression short form (BDI-S), and also definite diagnosis of psychiatrists received was the subject of this study. After the position of the baseline, the intervention began. The subject was exposed to 8 sessions of two hour intervention program. A month after the intervention sessions, two sets of questionnaires were administered in 2 consecutive months and was completed as a follow-up phase.

Results: The results of this study based on the visual analyses indicators and descriptive statistics showed that in the follow-up phase, compared to the baseline, the intervention was effective in reduction of trichotillomania and depression.

Conclusions: Acceptance and commitment therapy is effective and it can be applied in therapy centers in order to decrease the intensity of the symptoms of trichotillomania and depression.
Keywords
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Trichotillomania
depression
Single Case Study
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