The efficacy of group reality therapy on reducing stress, anxiety and depression in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Background and objective: Psychological aspects of chronic diseases has attracted many professionals. Because the incidence of sudden and uncontrollable symptoms of many diseases, causing stress and create a variety of negative emotions and mood in patients'. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group reality therapy in reduceing stress, anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method: This study is semi-experimental with pretest-post test and control group. The Research community included all MS patients referred to MS Society of iran in tehran. That was the beginning of the DASS-21 questionnaire. Among those who score high on this scale had a mean of 40 was selected and Randomly divided and assigned into two experimental and control groups (N=20 subjects) and matched control group (20 subjects) were replaced by the two groups. Both group were tested in the pre-test and post-test. The data of pre-test and post-test were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (analysis of covariance). Findings: Findings showed a significant reduction in the mean of the three variables of stress (F(1,38)= 81.37 ; P<0.01), anxiety (F(1,38)= 81.89 ; P<0.01) and depression (F(1,38)= 82.56 ; P<0.01) in the experimental group after the intervention (P <0/05). Conclusion: in this study group reality therapy significantly reduces stress, anxiety and depression in the intervention group compared with the control group . The reality therapy can be effective therapy in the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression in patients with MS and as an adjunct to other therapies.