Effectiveness of Emotional Schema Therapy on Distress Tolerance and Psychological Adjustment in Individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Keywords:
Obsessive, Compulsive Disorder, Emotional Schema Therapy, Distress Tolerance, Psychological Adjustment, Schema TherapyAbstract
Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Emotional Schema Therapy in improving distress tolerance and psychological adjustment among individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Methods and Materials: This semi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with an experimental group and a control group. The statistical population consisted of individuals with OCD referred to counseling and psychological clinics in Tehran in 2023. Thirty eligible participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups, with 15 participants in each group. Participants completed the Distress Tolerance Scale and the Bell Adjustment Inventory at pretest and posttest. The experimental group received Emotional Schema Therapy in thirteen 90-minute weekly sessions, whereas the control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance in SPSS version 26, with the significance level set at .05.
Findings: After controlling for pretest scores, significant between-group differences were observed in all outcome variables. Emotional Schema Therapy had a significant effect on distress tolerance, F = 457.30, p < .001, η² = .92; absorption, F = 78.20, p < .001, η² = .79; appraisal, F = 352.30, p < .001, η² = .93; regulation, F = 192.10, p < .001, η² = .89; and psychological adjustment, F = 345.20, p < .001, η² = .91. These findings indicate statistically significant intervention effects with large effect sizes across all examined outcomes.
Conclusion: Emotional Schema Therapy appears to be an effective psychological intervention for enhancing distress tolerance and psychological adjustment in individuals with OCD. By targeting maladaptive emotional schemas and coping patterns, this therapeutic approach may strengthen individuals’ capacity to tolerate distress, regulate emotional responses, and adapt more effectively to psychological and environmental demands.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Amineh Jalali, Rashin Abdollahi (Author); Fatemeh Akhlaghi Yazdinejad
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