Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Perceived Stress in Patients With Leukemia

Background and Aim: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on perceived stress among patients with leukemia. Materials and Methods: This study employed an experimental design using a pre-test–post-test control group design with a follow-up phase. The study population consisted of all patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who attended the chemotherapy clinic at Rajaei Hospital in Karaj City, Iran, in ۲۰۲۴. From this population, ۴۵ participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned—based on leukemia type (lymphocytic or myeloid), age, and gender—into three groups: CBT, ACT, and a control group. Participants completed the perceived stress scale (PSS) at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The interventions consisted of a ۱۰-session CBT protocol and an ۸-session ACT protocol, both delivered in a group format. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: The findings indicated a significant difference between the CBT group and the control group in the dimensions of perceived stress at post-test (P<۰.۰۱). Similarly, a significant difference was observed between the ACT and control groups at post-test (P<۰.۰۱). Furthermore, a significant difference was found between the CBT and ACT groups in the dimensions of perceived stress at post-test (P<۰.۰۱). At the follow-up stage, significant differences in perceived stress dimensions were observed between the two intervention groups (P<۰.۰۱), indicating the persistence of treatment effects over time. Conclusion: The results suggest that acceptance-based approaches may play a more prominent role in improving the psychological experiences of patients with leukemia. Accordingly, ACT may be considered a more effective option in psychological interventions in this population.

کلیدواژه ها:

Perceived stress ، Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) ، Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) ، Leukemia