Effectiveness of Paradox Therapy on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective: Extramarital relationships have witnessed an upward trend in recent years, constituting a significant factor contributing to familial disintegration, divorce, and, ultimately, a deterioration in societal well-being. Consequently, the current investigation was undertaken with the objective of evaluating the efficacy of paradox therapy in alleviating post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among women adversely impacted by extramarital relationships. Methods: The methodological framework of the present study was semi-experimental, employing a pre-test-post-test design alongside a control group, supplemented by a follow-up phase spanning two months. The research population encompassed all women who had experienced the consequences of their husbands' extramarital affairs and who sought psychological services at various psychology and counseling clinics located in Tehran. The sample for this investigation comprised 30 individuals who expressed a willingness to engage in the study and were selected through convenience sampling; however, during the course of the research, 3 participants withdrew from each group. The instrument utilized for data collection was the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), with data analysis employing analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: The findings indicated that paradox therapy exerted a statistically significant influence on the reduction of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in women affected by extramarital relationships (p<0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, it is posited that paradox therapy may serve as a viable intervention in addressing psychological trauma and mitigating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder resultant from extramarital relationships.