Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in lupus, on frustration, psychological distress and mental tiredness. In this study, we compared the results of the pretest-post test evaluation of participants in two groups of lupus patients with and without intervention. 24 lupus patients participated in this study. Then they divided randomly into two groups including patients with ACT intervention and patients without intervention. Both groups were matched for age, major organ involvement, education and economic level. At the beginning and end of the study, all patients filled out 3 questionnaires including Back hopelessness scale, Kessler psychological Distress Scale, and Krupp the fatigue severity score. After 8 consecutive secession of ACT therapy in cases, both groups were compared in scores of aforementioned questionnaires before and after therapy. In case group, hopeless, psychological distress, and fatigue severity were improved significantly compared with controls (p<0.01). Few studies on this peruse have been conducted until recently. Acceptance and commitment therapy is a method in which patient learns to accept negative thoughts as a challenge not a believe. They learn to try to accept their limitations instead of fighting them. It is a method of psychological flexibility and motivation to find the best ways to overcome those limitations instead of denying them. This study demonstrated that ACT psychotherapy reduces frustration, psychological distress and mental tiredness in lupus patients.