Comparing the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Ccommitment-based Therapy and Compassion-based Therapy on Life Expectancy and Demoralization Syndrome in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a potentially brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) debilitating disease.In addition to physical problems, it can cause mood disorders and mental, neurological, and psychological problems in patients.The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based therapy and compassion-based therapy on life expectancy and demoralization syndrome in patients with multiple sclerosis.Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest and a twomonth follow-up design with a control group.The study population included all patients with multiple sclerosis referred to the MS Association of Tabriz City in 2023.A total of 60 people were selected by convenience sampling method and divided into two experimental groups and a control group (20 people each).For the first experimental group, acceptance and commitment-based therapy, and for the second experimental group, compassion-based therapy, were administered in eight 60-minute sessions over four weeks in an independent manner.The control group did not receive any training.The research instruments included the Hope Scale by Snyder, et al. (1991) and the Demoralization Scale by Kissane et al. (2004), which were completed at the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases.Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance using SPSS v.16 software. Results:The results showed that the therapy based on acceptance and commitment and compassion-based therapy had positive effects on life expectancy and demoralization syndrome in patients with MS (p<0.05).Furthermore, the post-hoc results showed that there is no significant difference between the effects of two treatments on life expectancy and demoralization syndrome. Conclusion:According to the study results, the acceptance and commitmentbased therapy and the on compassion-based therapy can be used as effective treatments to increase life expectancy and reduce demoralization syndrome in patients with MS.