Efficacy of schema mode therapy on obsessive symptoms, distress tolerance and guilt of patients with obsessive-compulsive: A single subject study

Background: Obsessive symptoms, low distress tolerance, and heightened guilt represent prevalent characteristics within the clinical demographic of individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).These features contribute significantly to the chronicity of this disorder, complicating the treatment trajectory and prolonging the therapeutic process.Consequently, the imperative to identify an appropriate treatment for OCD becomes more pronounced.The chronic nature of this condition inflicts substantial damage on various facets of life, including relationships, performance, work, and overall quality of life.Aims: This study aimed to scrutinize the efficacy of schema mode therapy in ameliorating obsession symptoms, bolstering distress tolerance, and alleviating guilt among individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder.Methods: The present research employed a single case study utilizing an ABA design.The statistical population encompassed all patients diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) attending psychological centers in Ahvaz city.The sampling method adopted for this study was Purposive, specifically selecting four individuals diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder as the research sample.To assess and measure the participants, structured interviews based on DSM-5-TR criteria were conducted, along with employing the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Scale (Goodman et al., 1989), the Distress Tolerance Scale (Simons & Gaher, 2005), and the Guilt Scale (Kugler & Jones, 1992).The therapeutic intervention utilized in this study adhered to the schema mode therapy protocol as outlined by Ferrell et al. (2014).For data analysis, visual chart, percentage of non-overlapping data, recovery percentage and reliable change index were used. Results:The research findings revealed that schema mode therapy exhibited effectiveness in reducing symptoms of obsession, enhancing distress tolerance, and alleviating guilt among the subjects during both the intervention and follow-up stages.Furthermore, the reliability index value was statistically significant for all measured parameters (p< 0.05).Additionally, the percentage of recovery during the follow-up phase fell within the spectrum denoting treatment success, signifying the sustained efficacy and stability of this therapeutic intervention.Conclusion: Given the obsession and chronic obsession, the necessity of an effective and sustainable treatment is important for these patients.Also, according to the results of the present study and the effectiveness of schema mode therapy on the symptoms of obsession, distress tolerance and guilt in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, the use of specific interventions and intervention techniques based on schema mentalities is suggested as a main and complementary method along with other main treatment techniques and concepts.