Search

Scrupulosity is treated as a particular presentation of the symptomatology characteristic for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, typical treatment of OCD (e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy) is less effective in the case of religious scruples. Recently, schema therapy has appeared as an alternative effective treatment in obsessive-compulsive symptomatology. The present study investigated the associations between early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) and scrupulosity in a non-clinical sample of 376 poles. The participants assessed their EMSs with the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 – Short Form and their scrupulosity with the Pennsylvania Inventory of Scrupulosity. We used network analysis to control for the EMS interconnectivity. We showed that accounting for the interactions within the EMSs, three schemas, namely, Punitiveness, Subjugation, and Enmeshment/Undeveloped Self, were positively correlated with scrupulosity. Given the central position of the Negativity/Pessimism schema in the examined network, we suggested that activation of this schema could be indirectly correlated to scruples via an escalation of activation to the Punitiveness, Subjugation, and Enmeshment schemas. The findings suggest that dependency and fear of rejection problems (present in Subjugation and Enmeshment EMSs) and over-compensation by perfectionism (present in Punitiveness EMS) could be addressed in the treatment of scruples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the emotional states preceding and during sexual and violent offenses in a Dutch sample of male forensic inpatients. Moreover, the predictive impact of these emotional states on institutional violence in the first year of mandated care was examined using an incident scheme. Observer-ratings of emotional states by 103 male offenders and 97 sex offenders were examined using Mann-Whitney U tests. Using hierarchical multiple regression analyses, the predictive relationship between crime-related emotional states and incidents was examined. Sexual and violent crimes were equally preceded by painful emotions, primarily feelings of abandonment. During violent crimes, a state of bully and attack was dominant whereas sexual crimes were also characterized by self-aggrandizement and manipulation. These emotional states were not predictive for institutional violence. This study emphasizes the importance of emotional states in offending behavior and usefulness of schema therapy's crime theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Nowadays, internet addiction has become a social problem that can disrupt an individual's health and productive presence in society. Everyone spends a significant amount of time on various programs and using the internet daily, but some people excessively engage in these activities to the extent that their mental health, behavior, and social life are adversely affected. Therefore, it is essential to intervene and prevent internet addiction. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of quality of life intervention based on reality therapy according to adolescents' lived experiences on internet and computer game addiction. Methods and Materials: The first part of the research employed a qualitative phenomenological approach. The statistical population consisted of all adolescents with internet addiction under counseling in counseling centers in Isfahan. Fifteen adolescents were purposefully selected and interviewed until saturation. After analyzing the interviews using Colaizzi's method and MAXQDA software, nine main concepts (lifestyle, identity formation, self-efficacy, psycho-physical factors, family structure, parent-adolescent relationship, family demographic characteristics, interpersonal relationships, and society) and 33 sub-concepts were categorized. Consequently, the quality of life intervention based on reality therapy was developed based on the extracted themes. The second part of the research was a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test control group, and follow-up period. The statistical population included all adolescents with internet addiction under counseling in counseling centers in Isfahan. Thirty adolescents were purposefully selected based on the inclusion criteria (scoring above 50 on the Internet Addiction Questionnaire) and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received the quality of life intervention based on reality therapy over two months in ten 120-minute sessions. The questionnaires used included the Internet Addiction Questionnaire by Kimberly Young (1998) and the Computer Game Addiction Questionnaire by Soltani and Farhadi (2016). The collected data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with SPSS23 software. Findings: The results indicated that the quality of life intervention based on reality therapy according to adolescents' lived experiences had a significant effect on internet and computer game addiction (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the quality of life intervention based on reality therapy according to adolescents' lived experiences, utilizing the principles and techniques of changing conditions and enhancing quality of life based on Glasser's reality therapy theory, can be an effective intervention for improving internet and computer game addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The increasing delay in the age of marriage and the decreasing interest and willingness of single women to marry have led to a rise in the age of marriage, resulting in an increase in the number of single women with higher ages. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy before marriage on the emotional maturity and body image of single women. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test and post-test design with a non-equivalent control group. The study population included single women from District 1 of Tehran in 2022. The research sample consisted of 60 participants selected through convenience sampling based on a call from the study population, and they were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. Participants completed the Emotional Maturity Questionnaire (Yashvir Singh and Mahesh Bhargava, 1991) and the Body Image Questionnaire (Fisher, 1970) before the intervention, after the intervention, and at follow-up. The first experimental group received schema therapy and the second experimental group received cognitive-behavioral therapy in eight 90-minute sessions based on the schema therapy protocol (Leahy, 2013) and the cognitive-behavioral therapy protocol (Beck, 1964), respectively. Data were analyzed using one-way ANCOVA and one-way ANOVA with post hoc tests using SPSS software. Findings: The results indicated that schema therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly (mean difference with p < 0.05) reduced emotional maturity instability and improved body image (mean difference with p < 0.05) in single women. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is concluded that schema therapy before marriage and cognitive-behavioral therapy can be effective therapeutic methods for improving the emotional maturity and body image of single women and can be used as important and key interventions in the pre-marriage domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early Adaptive Schemas have been proposed as adaptive counterparts to Early Maladaptive Schemas, which are longstanding dysfunctional psychological structures associated with psychopathology. The Young Positive Schema Questionnaire (YPSQ) was recently developed to complement the Young Schema Questionnaire 3 Short-Form. This study describes the cultural adaptation of YPSQ to European Portuguese. A sample of European Portuguese-speaking participants (N = 430, Mage = 30.31, DP = 12.75), fulfilled self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional/transversal design. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, multi-group confirmatory group analysis and Pearson correlations were used to explore the psychometric properties of the YPSQ. A 14-factorial model was identified with 56 items with excellent goodness-of-fit indices χ2(426) = 3252.165, TLI = 0.92, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.056[0.053 − 0.058]. Almost all the positive schemas correlated negatively with symptomatic domains (e.g., depression, anxiety), assessed using the Brief Symptomatic Inventory, which supported adequate construct validity. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis using the original samples from Asia and the West when YPSQ was initially developed and the portuguese sample, showed invariance of the factor structure across these cultures including Portugal. The factor structure of the YPSQ was confirmed, suggesting that this measure may be adequate to assess positive schemas in the European Portuguese-speaking Population. More research is still required to demonstrate other psychometric properties of the instrument using clinical populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single session therapy (SST) is an increasingly popular approach to mental health treatment that aims to address clients' presenting difficulties in a single appointment. However, experiential approaches to SST are limited. In this paper I describe the theory and practice of "chairwork" – an integrative, action-focused method of intervention centred on the concept of self-multiplicity – and outline how these procedures can be coherently applied in a single-session format. A preliminary protocol for delivering single-session chairwork (SSC) or "brief dialogical psychotherapy" is presented, alongside a case illustration that demonstrates features of this approach. Finally, directions for future research and the continued development of chairwork as a psychotherapeutic modality are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gold-standard approaches for chronic tinnitus involve hearing amplification measures and psychological therapy, where applicable. Whilst schema therapy is accumulating evidence as a transdiagnostically useful treatment framework, its applicability for patients with chronic tinnitus has not yet been examined. The present study (a) explores latent dimensions of psychological distress in a sample of chronic tinnitus patients, and (b) examines whether the schema mode model might explain these dimensions - thus constituting a potentially helpful conceptualization and treatment framework. Methods: N = 696 patients with chronic tinnitus completed the Tinnitus Questionnaire, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire and ICD-10 Symptom Rating. As criterion, patients further completed the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI-r) - which assesses psychological constructs linked to negative self-beliefs ("parent modes"), primary emotions resulting from unmet psychological needs ("child modes"), and secondary emotional or behavioral attempts to reinstate or maintain psychological equilibrium ("coping modes"). A varimax-rotated principal axis factor analysis grouped the primary item pool. Factor scale scores were then correlated with the SMI-r. Results: A three-factor solution explained 37.4% of variance and represented 78% of the included items. Following item content examination, the factors represented (1) General emotional distress, (2) Tinnitus-attributed emotional distress, and (3) Socio-audiological impairment. Factors 1|2 correlated highly (r = 0.70), Factors 2|3 moderately (r = 0.62). Linked to the schema mode model, Factor 1 correlated highly with the "vulnerable child" (r = 0.78), and moderately with the "parent", "angry child", and "detached protector" modes (0.53 < r < 0.65). Factor 2 correlated moderately with the "vulnerable child" (r = 0.53). Factor 3 was largely uncorrelated with SMI-r scores - although a low correlation with the "detached protector" warrants further examination. Conclusion: "General" and "tinnitus-attributed" emotional distress correlate highly - warranting holistic (not symptom-specific) psychological case conceptualization and treatment planning. Viewed from a schema mode perspective, the "vulnerable child" explains substantial variance across both dimensions. Consequently, autobiographically anchored, unmet emotional needs and emotional detachment constitute key treatment targets. Socialaudiological impairment should be multimodally conceptualised and treated with hearing aids and psychological support measures, as applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the 1‐year follow‐up of a study into the effectiveness of Schema Therapy (ST) for borderline personality disorder (BPD) and comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD). In the original study, 20 of these patients participated in a multiple baseline case series design study. The results of the original study were promising (a significant decrease of BPD and AUD symptoms). The present study is aimed at examining the longer term benefits of ST for BPD and comorbid AUD. One year after the cessation of the investigational therapy, 17 of the original participants agreed to participate in this follow‐up study. T‐ or Wilcoxon signed rank tests were performed to compare 1‐year follow‐up to start of therapy (baseline). The results suggest that the main therapeutic improvements were generally preserved at 1‐year follow‐up. These findings add to the idea that integrated ST for BPD and comorbid AUD might be effective, also in the long term. A randomized clinical trial is indicated to substantiate this idea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed temporal associations between parent–child relationship, parenting behaviors (i.e., warmth, rejection, and overprotection), and adolescents' depressive symptoms after trauma, using random-intercept cross-lagged panel models to distinguish between- and within-adolescent differences. We surveyed Chinese adolescents 12 (Aug 2018; T1), 21 (May 2019; T2), 27 (Nov 2019; T3) months after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake that occurred in August 2017. Of the 585 adolescents who participated in at least two waves of the study, mean age at T1 was 15.50 years old (SD = 1.58 years) and 57.8% were girls. Controlling adolescents' gender, age, ethnicity, trauma exposure at T1, and parents' marital status, between-adolescent results showed that parent–child relationship and parenting behaviors, parent–child relationship and depressive symptoms were correlated across models of parental warmth, rejection, and overprotection, whereas depressive symptoms were only correlated with parental rejection and overprotection. Within-adolescent results indicated that parent–child relationship and adolescents' depressive symptoms had bidirectional associations via the mediation of parental warmth from T1 to T3. Over the longer term following the earthquake, we found that parental rejection was bidirectionally associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms, whereas parental overprotection was unidirectionally influenced by adolescents' depressive symptoms from T2 to T3. In addition, more depressive symptoms in adolescents were associated with worsening parent–child relationship from T2 to T3. In conclusion, shortly after trauma, interventions should focus on improving parent–child relationship and relieving adolescents' depressive symptoms. Over the longer term after trauma, relieving adolescents' depressive symptoms should be prioritized to avoid its eroding effects on parent–child relationship and parenting behaviors, and to break the "vicious cycle". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past, cosmetic surgery was performed to return the function and normal shape of a body part. But today, cosmetic surgery has lost its main function. The present research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on self-compassion, body shame, and intolerance of uncertainty in women applying for cosmetic surgery. Methods: The current research was applied and semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of this research was all women who were referred to cosmetic clinics for cosmetic surgery in Tehran City, Iran, in 2023, and 30 people were selected by the convenience sampling method and randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. Data were collected using the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBC), and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS). Schema therapy intervention was performed during 8 sessions of 120 minutes once a week for the experimental group and the data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS software. Results: A statistically significant increase in self-compassion (F = 239.454) and reductions in body shame (F = 555.477) and uncertainty intolerance (F = 301.050) were observed in the experimental group after schema therapy (P < 0.001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that schema therapy increases self-compassion and reduces body shame and intolerance of uncertainty in women applying for cosmetic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship and connection between sensation seeking, attention deficits, and their underlying psychological frameworks has been a subject of extensive research within the field of psychology. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Schema Therapy (EFST) on reducing sensation seeking behaviors and enhancing the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) among children diagnosed with attention deficits. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was employed, involving 30 participants aged between 8 and 12 years diagnosed with attention deficit, randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group received 10 sessions of EFST. Data were collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up, utilizing standard psychometric tools to measure sensation seeking and behavioral inhibition. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements, followed by Bonferroni post-hoc tests, utilizing SPSS software. Results: The ANOVA revealed significant group x time interaction effects for both sensation seeking [F(2,56) = 17.33, P < 0.001, η² = 0.38] and behavioral inhibition [F(2,56) = 15.88, P < 0.001, η² = 0.35], indicating significant improvements in the intervention group over time compared to the control group. Bonferroni post-hoc testing supported these findings, showing marked improvements in sensation seeking and behavioral inhibition in the intervention group from baseline to post-intervention and follow-up, with mean differences of 5.93 and -5.06, respectively (both P-values < 0.001).. Conclusion: EFST effectively reduced sensation seeking behaviors and enhanced the BIS in children with attention deficits. These findings underscore the potential of EFST as a therapeutic approach for managing attention deficit-related behaviors, suggesting promising implications for clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Higher intensity of psychotherapy might improve treatment outcome in depression, especially in those with comorbid personality disorder. Aims: To compare the effects of 25 individual sessions (weekly) of two forms of psychotherapy – short-term psychoanalytic supportive psychotherapy (SPSP) and schema therapy – with the same treatments given for 50 sessions (twice weekly) in people with depression and personality disorder. Trial registration: NTR5941. Method: We conducted a pragmatic, double-randomised clinical trial and, over 37 months, recruited 246 adult out-patients with comorbid depression/dysthymia and personality disorder. A 2 × 2 factorial design randomised participants to 25 or 50 sessions of SPSP or schema therapy. The primary outcome was change in depression severity over 1 year on the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Secondary outcomes were remission both of depression and personality disorder. Results: Compared with 25 sessions, participants who received 50 sessions showed a significantly greater decrease in depressive symptoms over time (time × session dosage, P < 0.001), with a mean difference of 5.6 BDI points after 1 year (d = −0.53, 95% CI −0.18 to 0.882, P = 0.003). Remission from depression was also greater in the 50-session group (74% v. 58%, P = 0.025), as was remission of personality disorder (74% v. 56%, P = 0.010). Conclusions: Greater intensity of psychotherapy leads to better outcomes of both depression and personality status in people with comorbid depression and personality disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Differences between couples and their continuous interaction can create multiple grounds for conflict, which may lead to severe negative outcomes such as stress, depression, grief, worry, and despair. The current research aimed to determine the effectiveness of schema therapy on emotional expression and emotional maturity in conflicting couples. Methods and Materials: The research method was a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and a control group with a three-month follow-up period. The statistical population of the current study included all conflicting couples seeking help at counseling clinics and psychological services in District 1 of Tehran in 2023, from which 30 couples were selected through convenience sampling and randomly placed into two groups, 15 couples in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. Assessment tools included the Sanaie Marital Conflict Questionnaire (2000), the Singh and Bhargava Emotional Maturity Scale (1990), and the King and Emmons Emotional Expression Questionnaire (1990). The experimental group underwent eight two-hour schema therapy sessions based on Young et al. (2003) twice a week. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Findings: Results showed significant differences between groups in post-test and follow-up in emotional expression and emotional maturity (p < .05), and schema therapy had lasting effects during the follow-up period (p < .05). Conclusion: Schema therapy can be used as an effective approach to improve emotional expression and emotional maturity in conflicting couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a complex disorder associated with significant prevalence, mortality, and public health costs. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of schema therapy on impulsivity, sexual variety seeking, and anxiety in borderline patients. Methods and Materials: This study was a clinical trial with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up along with a control group, conducted in a semi-experimental research design. The statistical population consisted of individuals with BPD who visited psychology and psychiatry clinics in Sari from April to June 2022 (N=172). The sample was selected using the convenience sampling method and included two groups of 10 participants each (experimental and control). The data collection tools were the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (First, Spitzer, Gibbon, & Williams, 1997), Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck & Steer, 1990), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (Fossati et al., 2002), and Sexual Variety Seeking Questionnaire (Aref-Nazari et al., 2011). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS.22 software. Findings: The results indicated that schema therapy was effective in reducing impulsive behaviors (F=66.00, P<0.001), sexual variety seeking (F=29.82, P<0.001), and anxiety (F=3.00, P<0.001) in borderline patients. Conclusion: It can be concluded that schema therapy is effective in reducing impulsivity, sexual variety seeking, and anxiety in borderline patients, and can be utilized to mitigate the psychological problems in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Adolescence can profoundly and significantly impact one's entire life. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on ambiguity tolerance. Methods and Materials: This research is a semi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population included all male high school students in the second year of Bostanabad County in the 2021-2022 academic year. A total of 45 participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. The research instrument was the second version of the Multiple Stimulus Types Ambiguity Tolerance Scale (MSTAT-II) by McLain (1993). The research hypothesis was analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings: The results of the covariance analysis test showed that the significance level in all comparisons was less than 0.05, indicating a significant difference in the effectiveness of schema therapy and ACT on ambiguity tolerance (p < 0.05). The effect size analysis showed a difference with a coefficient of 0.138. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, schema therapy has a greater impact on ambiguity tolerance than ACT. Therefore, it is suggested that schema therapy be taught to school counselors as an effective strategy so that they can apply these strategies in their interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exam anxiety in female students, a significant emotional response and emotional issue that negatively impacts learning, is perceived as a threat by many students. The present study investigated the efficacy of emotional schema therapy (EST) on self-regulation and frustration tolerance in female students with exam anxiety during the academic year 2022-2023.Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest was employed. A total of 36 female students with exam anxiety were recruited from Ahvaz, Iran. Convenience sampling technique was employed to select the study participants who were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=18) or the control group (n=18) using a random number table. The experimental group received ten, 60-minute sessions of EST. Self-regulation and frustration tolerance were assessed using questionnaires before and after the intervention. Group differences were assessed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).Results: At pretest, both groups showed similar levels of self-regulation (P=0.694). Following the intervention, the experimental group showed significantly higher self-regulation (Mean=49.72, SD=5.74) as compared with the control group (Mean=36.39, SD=4.17) (P=0.001). No significant difference in frustration tolerance was observed between groups at pretest (P=0.927). However, the experimental group (Mean=71.28, SD=5.88) demonstrated significantly greater frustration tolerance as compared with the control group (Mean=117.67, SD=18.10) after the intervention (P=0.001). The findings indicated that EST effectively improved self-regulation and frustration tolerance in female students with exam anxiety (P

Objective: Losing a loved one due to death is a universal human experience, and many consider it one of the most stressful life events. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on depression, self-esteem, and distress tolerance in fatherless depressed adolescents. Methods and Materials: This applied research utilized a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test and a control group. Using cluster random sampling, 30 adolescents (19 girls and 11 boys) who had lost their fathers in the past 1 to 2 years and scored high on the Beck Depression Inventory (1961) were selected from high schools in Arak city. They were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. As a pre-test, participants completed the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (1967) and the Simons and Gaher Distress Tolerance Scale (2005). The experimental group received 10 weekly sessions (90 minutes each) of group schema therapy based on the Young et al. (2012) protocol. Findings: According to the findings, schema therapy significantly impacted depression (F = 17.25), self-esteem (F = 36.34), and distress tolerance (F = 17.74) in adolescents. Conclusion: These findings suggest that effective treatments, such as schema therapy, can reduce the negative outcomes associated with the experience of father loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This case study endeavors to provide an in-depth understanding of the schema and mode structure of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and to illustrate a possible therapeutic approach using schema therapy (ST). Material and methods. The recorded material from a 2-year therapeutic journey of a 38-year-old female client diagnosed with NPD was transcribed and systematically analyzed, together with the results of questionnaires that were given to the client at the start of therapy and at the end of the process. Results. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III) was initially used to confirm the presence of NPD in the client. Concurrently, the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) and Schema Mode Inventory (SMI) were employed to measure changes across the course of treatment. The MCMI-III confirmed the existence of NPD. The YSQ revealed a high presence of schemas in the domains of disconnection and rejection, as well as schemas of subjugation, entitlement, and approval seeking. The SMI indicated elevated scores on Vulnerable and Angry Child Modes, Detached Self-Soother and Self-Aggrandizer, Punitive and Demanding Parent. The scores for Happy Child and Healthy Adult were medium. Upon completion of therapy, a reevaluation of the questionnaire’s scores demonstrated a reduction in narcissism on MCMI-III from 89 to 78, indicating that the client no longer met the criteria for NPD but only for narcissistic personality traits. The scores for YSQ and SMI also decreased significantly. Conclusions. The use of schema therapy was an adaptive and successful approach to addressing the narcissistic personality pathology of the client. The utilization of a limited reparenting stance allowed empathic confrontation of the main narcissistic modes. The utilization of mode conceptualization and schema understanding reduced feelings of shame and promoted participation of the client’s Healthy Adult Mode in the therapeutic process.

Abstract Background Schema therapy is promising for people with eating disorders, especially those unresponsive to cognitive behavioural therapy. Complex underlying psychological constructs include dysfunctional schemas and maladaptive modes. This study aimed to explore people living with eating disorders’ schema modes and their identification with and understanding of their high scoring modes. Methods Sixteen women with enduring eating disorders without prior exposure to schema therapy completed the schema mode inventory for eating disorders short form (SMI-ED-SF), then participated in semi-structured interviews discussing their high scoring modes. Interviews were analysed by thematic analysis. Results All participants scored above clinical concern on at least one maladaptive mode and many scored high on multiple modes, most commonly Demanding Mode, Vulnerable Child and Detached Self-Soother. Qualitatively, four themes emerged: 1) Adverse family environments related to (a) trauma and the vulnerable and angry child and (b) unrealistically high standards; 2) Mode effects on (a) everyday life and (b) disordered eating; 3) Modes are psychologically protective in (a) avoiding emotion by detachment and soothing, (b) people pleasing by compliance and surrender; 4) Help seeking including (a) barriers to recovery from an eating disorder, (b) dissatisfaction with interventions experienced to date, (c) schema therapy as a promising alternative. Discussion Participants recognised and identified with their high scoring schema modes. After negative experiences with previous interventions, they considered schema therapy to be a promising alternative that could understand and work on their deeper psychological issues. This suggests that schema modes are a promising way of understanding and working with enduring eating disorders.

Abstract This paper explores the bidirectional relationship between trauma and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), emphasising the need for integrated treatment approaches. Trauma exposure, often associated with various psychological disorders, contributes to the high comorbidity observed in SUDs. Early childhood trauma, in particular, is linked to vulnerability in developing SUDs later in life. In response to the challenges of treating SUDs, this paper outlines emerging evidence for schema therapy as a transdiagnostic intervention. Schema therapy, an extension of cognitive behavioural therapy, targets maladaptive schemas and core beliefs by integrating cognitive, behavioural, and experiential techniques. Schema therapy recognises the role of unmet core emotional needs in the development of early maladaptive schemas, offering a holistic approach to address entrenched psychological patterns. Empirical evidence suggests a significant association between early maladaptive schemas and SUDs, highlighting the potential of schema therapy in addressing substance use. Despite limited research, studies demonstrate promising outcomes, including reductions in SUD severity and symptoms of comorbid conditions. Clinical implications include the integration of trauma screening in SUD assessments, adopting a holistic approach to treatment, and exploring schema therapy as a viable intervention through rigorous research methodologies. Ultimately, this paper highlights that the integration of schema therapy into substance use treatment programs holds promise in revolutionising the approach to SUDs, providing a nuanced and effective therapeutic intervention for individuals seeking lasting recovery and improved quality of life.

Objective: Studies have shown that neuroticism is one of the personality traits associated with negative psychological consequences. This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of schema therapy on reducing neuroticism.Methods: The current research is a quasi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The research population was the patients referred to Shariati Hospital in Tehran in 2021, and 22 of them who had obtained a high score in the neuroticism subscale were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly assigned into two experimental (n = 11) and control (n = 11) groups. Both groups completed the neuroticism subscale of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory-3 (NEO-FFI-3) in the pre-test and post-test phases. The experimental group was subjected to the schema therapy for 10 weekly sessions, but no intervention was performed on the experimental group during this period. The analysis of the collected data was done with analysis of covariance and SPSS-18 software.Results: The obtained findings showed that schema therapy was able to significantly reduce the level of neuroticism in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.001).Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be concluded that schema therapy is effective in reducing neuroticism and can be used in treatment centers in this regard.

Objectives: Schema Therapy, an approach that integrates cognitive-behavioural and attachment principles, helps us understand the impact of early interactions with caregivers on adult mental health. These early interactions can be assessed through Schema Therapy-informed tools; however, these tools have yet to be used with a postnatal population, which represents a period of vulnerability for new mothers. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of positive and negative early parenting interactions on a first-time mother’s mental health and her sense of competence during the postnatal period, using recently revised and newly developed Schema Therapy-informed tools. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Method: First-time mothers (N = 220) participated in an online survey within 12 months post-birth. Participants completed the Positive Parenting Schema Inventory (PPSI), Young Parenting Inventory—Revised (YPI-R2), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale. The data were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression and mediational analysis. Results: Negative early interactions with mothers and fathers led to greater postnatal depressive symptomology, while positive early interactions with mothers led to fewer postnatal depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses revealed that postnatal depressive symptoms mediated early parenting interactions and participants’ sense of parenting competence as a new mother. Conclusions: The protective effects of positive early interactions with caregivers can help first-time mothers’ postnatal emotional adjustment and their sense of competence through diminished postnatal depressive symptoms. However, the enduring effects of negative early interactions with caregivers can contribute to a first-time mother’s risk of developing postnatal depression and negatively affect her sense of parental competence.

Abstract Background About one third of patients with depression are in a condition that can be termed as “difficult-to-treat”. Some evidence suggests that difficult-to-treat depression is associated with a higher frequency of childhood trauma and comorbid personality disorders or accentuated features. However, the condition is understudied, and the effects of psychotherapy for difficult-to-treat depression are currently uncertain. The aim of this trial is to investigate the beneficial and harmful effects of 30 sessions of individual schema therapy versus treatment as usual for difficult-to-treat depression in the Danish secondary, public mental health sector. Methods In this randomized, multi-centre, parallel-group, superiority clinical trial, 129 outpatients with difficult-to-treat depression will be randomized (1:1) to 30 sessions of individual schema therapy or treatment as usual; in this context mainly group-based, short-term cognitive behaviour or psychodynamic therapy. The primary outcome is the change from baseline in depressive symptoms 12 months after randomization, measured on the observer-rated 6-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. The secondary outcomes are health-related quality of life assessed with the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level Version, functional impairment assessed with the Work and Social Adjustment Scale, psychological wellbeing assessed with the WHO-5 Well-being Index, and negative effects of treatment assessed with the Negative Effects Questionnaire. Exploratory outcomes are improvement on patient self-defined outcomes, personal recovery, anxiety symptoms, anger reactions, metacognitive beliefs about anger, and perseverative negative thinking. Outcomes will be assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months after randomization; the 12-month time-point being the primary time-point of interest. Outcome assessors performing the depression-rating, data managers, statisticians, the data safety and monitoring committee, and conclusion makers for the outcome article will be blinded to treatment allocation and results. To assess cost-effectiveness of the intervention, a health economic analysis will be performed. Discussion This trial will provide evidence on the beneficial and harmful effects, as well as the cost-effectiveness of schema therapy versus treatment as usual for outpatients with difficult-to-treat depression. The results can potentially improve treatment for a large and understudied patient group. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05833087. Registered on 15th April 2023 (approved without prompts for revision on 27th April 2023).

Background: Many individuals, particularly adolescents, often deal with anxiety which in turn impacts their environmental perception. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group schema therapy and cognitive bias modification (CBM) on test anxiety in high school male adolescents.Method: This was a semi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design, two experimental groups, and a control group. The statistical population included all male high school students of Abadan, Iran in the academic year of 2020-2023. A total number of 45 people were selected using the convenience sampling method from secondary high schools in Abadan, Iran. Fortyfive students were assigned into two experimental groups and a control group (15 students in each group). The first experimental group received schema therapy (eight 90-minute sessions; one session every week) and the second experimental group received cognitive bias modification (eight 20-minute sessions; two sessions every week). The control group was considered on the waiting list. The General Self-Efficacy Scale was used for data collection. The tools used were Ahvaz Test Anxiety Inventory )ATI) and Probe Dot Task (PDT). SPSS version 25 was applied to analyze covariance.Results: Most of the participants were mathematics (64%) and a tenth grade (62%) students. The study results showed a significant difference between Schema Therapy, CBM, and control groups in test anxiety based on the pre-test and pre-test scores (P=0.001). Also, the experimental and control groups had significant differences in reaction time and attentional bias based on the pre-test and pre-test scores (P=0.001, P=0.025, P=0.038, P=0.026). The Schema Therapy and CBM groups also showed a significant difference between pre-test and post-test observations (P=0.001). However, no difference was found in the control group based on pre-test and post-test scores (P=0.054, P=0.424, P=0.709, P=0.066).Conclusions: Schema therapy and CBM groups showed a significant difference in test anxiety between the pre-test and post-test observations. However, no difference was found in the control group. Given the pre- and post-test scores, the CBM experimental group and the control group showed significant differences in reaction time and attentional bias However, there were no significant differences in the control group. Thus, it can be concluded that these two treatment models can be used to reduce the mentioned psychological abnormalities in students and help improve their mental health.

Imagery rescripting (ImR) has shown to reduce negative belief about the self, negative emotions and emotional dysregulation. However, the mechanisms through which this improvement in emotion regulation takes place is currently the object of investigation. An untested hypothesis is that ImR reduces the negative emotional response to primary emotions (i.e. the Meta-emotional problem) associated to difficulties in emotional regulation. In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate the impact of group ImR delivered via telehealth on dysfunctional personality beliefs, the Meta-emotional problem, difficulties in emotional regulation, and self-compassion in a non-clinical sample of participants. A total of 45 community sample participants received three sessions of group ImR delivered via telehealth. Personality dysfunctional beliefs, meta-emotions, self-compassion and emotional dysregulation were measured before ImR and in three follow-up sessions. Dysfunctional personality beliefs, specifically those associated with the dependent, obsessive–compulsive, antisocial, and histrionic personality disorders, were significantly reduced after the ImR intervention. Additionally, the Meta-emotional problem and difficulties in emotional regulation were also reduced. Moreover, negative self-compassion showed a significant decrease after ImR, but positive self-compassion remained unchanged. These findings suggest that group ImR delivered via telehealth can effectively reduce negative beliefs about oneself, negative emotions, and emotional dysregulation. However, it seems that this intervention does not increase a more benevolent attitude towards oneself, possibly due to the less direct intervention of the therapist in the group telehealth setting. The researchers discuss the implications of these findings for clinical practice in a group telehealth context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schema therapy is promising for people with eating disorders, especially those unresponsive to cognitive behavioural therapy. Complex underlying psychological constructs include dysfunctional schemas and maladaptive modes. This study aimed to explore people living with eating disorders' schema modes and their identification with and understanding of their high scoring modes. Methods: Sixteen women with enduring eating disorders without prior exposure to schema therapy completed the schema mode inventory for eating disorders short form (SMI-ED-SF), then participated in semi-structured interviews discussing their high scoring modes. Interviews were analysed by thematic analysis. Results: All participants scored above clinical concern on at least one maladaptive mode and many scored high on multiple modes, most commonly Demanding Mode, Vulnerable Child and Detached Self-Soother. Qualitatively, four themes emerged: 1) Adverse family environments related to (a) trauma and the vulnerable and angry child and (b) unrealistically high standards; 2) Mode effects on (a) everyday life and (b) disordered eating; 3) Modes are psychologically protective in (a) avoiding emotion by detachment and soothing, (b) people pleasing by compliance and surrender; 4) Help seeking including (a) barriers to recovery from an eating disorder, (b) dissatisfaction with interventions experienced to date, (c) schema therapy as a promising alternative. Discussion: Participants recognised and identified with their high scoring schema modes. After negative experiences with previous interventions, they considered schema therapy to be a promising alternative that could understand and work on their deeper psychological issues. This suggests that schema modes are a promising way of understanding and working with enduring eating disorders. Plain English summary: Maladaptive modes are important in Schema Therapy for eating disorders. They are momentary patterns of thought, feeling and behaviour, triggered by experiences to which people with eating disorders can be oversensitive. In a child mode the person may be inexplicably childish. A coping mode may involve detachment, surrender to others, or perfectionist overcompensation. A parent mode may involve unrealistic standards and demands. There are also two healthy modes of Healthy Adult and Happy Child, which are often lacking in people with eating disorders. In this study women with enduring eating disorders completed the schema mode inventory and then discussed their high scoring modes. Common maladaptive modes were vulnerable child, demanding parent mode and perfectionistic over-compensator. Participants identified with their high scoring modes and thought them useful for self-understanding, so schema therapy is a promising way of understanding the psychopathology underlying enduring eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjective:Method:Results:Conclusion:There are significant temporal and financial barriers for individuals with personality disorders (PD) receiving evidence-based psychological treatments. Emerging research indicates Group Schema Therapy (GST) may be an accessible, efficient, and cost-effective PD intervention, however, there has been no synthesis of the available evidence to date. This review therefore aimed to investigate the efficacy of GST for PDs by systematically synthesizing available literature.Five electronic databases were screened with resulting studies subjected to a specific eligibility criteria, which yielded fourteen relevant studies. Characteristics were extracted and methodological quality rigorously assessed.Strong support was evidenced for GST’s ability to reduce Cluster B and C symptomology, particularly for Borderline and Avoidant PD. GST appeared to improve global symptom severity, quality of life and functional capacity, as well as treatment targets such as schemas and modes.Although not without limitations and a moderate risk of bias, the current body of evidence supports GST as a potential solution to current service deficits in economical and evidence-based care for individuals with PD. Implications for treatment and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treating perpetrators of aggressive behavior, like verbal aggression, intimidation, and bullying behavior resulting in aggressive incidents with others, is difficult. This group is often diagnosed with personality disorders and when legal measures applied, they are more often treated in a forensic setting for their problems. This article presents the case of a 54‐year‐old man, diagnosed with Borderline personality disorder, narcissistic and antisocial traits, mild depressive symptoms, and loss and grief, who has voluntarily had treatment in a forensic outpatient center to reduce aggression and change destructive patterns in relationships. Hating, judging, and self‐defeating were the main reasons why the patient found himself ending up in the same situation repeatedly. The client received individual drama therapy sessions. The drama therapeutic approach included schema therapeutic elements, such as schema mode work with cards, as well as roleplay, imagery (with rescripting), improvisation, and psycho drama elements. As a result of drama therapy, the client reported less (active) aggression, less aggression in his relationships (partners/children/friends), but also an increased level of loneliness, and mild depressive symptoms. The client was more in touch with his vulnerability and was able to behave in a more adequate healthy way in relationships. Although self‐esteem was still building up, there was a decrease of aggression and less conflict‐seeking behavior as a result. Risk assessment tools (FARE‐2 & HONOS) and Schema therapy scales (YSQ and SMI) were used pre‐ and posttreatment confirming the improvements. This case promotes the use of dramatherapy in forensic outpatient care to be valuable in lowering risk recidivism and changing deeply rooted behavioral patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emotional activation is regarded as central in psychotherapy. We have developed a method called VideoTalk, in which patients video themselves at home according to the therapist's instructions, and the videos are watched together in the therapy session. The aim of the study was to find out whether watching and listening to a video in psychotherapy readily activates the patient's emotions. Methods: The video material was analysed by theory‐based content analysis using the interacting cognitive subsystems (ICS) theory. The ICS theory suggests a link between sensory information and emotions and describes two levels of meaning: propositional and implicational. The implicational level gains information from the propositional level and directly from perceptions and is central to the activation of emotions. Five patients participated in our schema therapy‐based intervention. Our material included videos of 10 therapy sessions, in which the patient and the therapist watched a video made by the patient at home in a state of helplessness. Watching the video in the session was performed in parts, and between watching periods, there were observation phases consisting of discussion about what the patient had seen and heard on the video and how it affected them. Our data included 38 observation phases, and in 35 of these, the patient verbalised an emotion after watching the video. The implicational level was involved in almost all observation phases in which the patient verbalised emotions. Results: Our findings are in line with the hypothesis that added multisensory information via video enhances input to the implicational level and therefore emotional activation in psychotherapy. This is a possible mechanism by which the use of VideoTalk could facilitate the psychotherapy process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a schema-driven analysis of the accompanied recitative "Erbarm es, Gott" from Johann Sebastian Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Arguing that the scene is best understood in dialogue with the conventions of the Italianate "galant" style of eighteenth-century recitative, we suggest that the music is guided by a simple thread of modulation upward through the circle of fifths. This thread is driven by repeated application of a particular harmonic schema--the "ruff," as described in Sherrill and Boyle (2015)--which prototypically displaces a consonant harmony with a #4 figure over a static bass. Tonal arrivals are repeatedly implied and then evaded, such that the recitative's simple tonal thread is best understood in terms of events that do not actually occur. This interpretation counterpoints Heinrich Schenker's analysis of the recitative in Der Tonwille, whose details are explored in conjunction with the schema-based perspective. The final portion of the article advances an expressive interpretation of the music, engaging also with scholarship on the Passion such as Chafe (1991). In our reading, the recitative's tonal shape stages an experience of progressive engrossment in the diegetic world of the Passion, broken off by an abrupt narrative negation at its end. In doing so, the article synthesizes divergent music-theoretical methodologies, hoping to show how the stylistically and culturally informed perspective of schema theory offers a site where the formal insights of Schenkerian theory can be integrated with semiotic criticism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The present study aimed at determining the effect of emotional schema therapy on the irrational beliefs and body image of women with body deformity disorders. Methods. This was semi-experimental research with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of this research included all women with body deformity disorders who were referred to the psychiatric centers of the 5th district of Tehran in 2021. Using the available sampling method, 30 people were selected from those who were referred to the mentioned centers. The research tools included the Ahvaz Irrational Belief and the Self-Body Multidimensional Questionnaires. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS-24. Results. Emotional schema therapy was effective on the irrational beliefs (the total score) and body image of women with body deformity disorders. In addition, emotional schema therapy could affect irrational beliefs in the components of expecting approval from others, avoiding problems, and showing emotional irresponsibility, but it had no significant effect on the component of being helpless against change. Conclusion. According to the findings, emotional schema therapy can be an effective method for correcting the irrational beliefs and body image of women with body deformity disorders. Practical Implications. Based on the results, therapists can use emotional schema therapy as one of the most efficient methods for treating negative beliefs and stereotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the bidirectional relationship between trauma and Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), emphasising the need for integrated treatment approaches. Trauma exposure, often associated with various psychological disorders, contributes to the high comorbidity observed in SUDs. Early childhood trauma, in particular, is linked to vulnerability in developing SUDs later in life. In response to the challenges of treating SUDs, this paper outlines emerging evidence for schema therapy as a transdiagnostic intervention. Schema therapy, an extension of cognitive behavioural therapy, targets maladaptive schemas and core beliefs by integrating cognitive, behavioural, and experiential techniques. Schema therapy recognises the role of unmet core emotional needs in the development of early maladaptive schemas, offering a holistic approach to address entrenched psychological patterns. Empirical evidence suggests a significant association between early maladaptive schemas and SUDs, highlighting the potential of schema therapy in addressing substance use. Despite limited research, studies demonstrate promising outcomes, including reductions in SUD severity and symptoms of comorbid conditions. Clinical implications include the integration of trauma screening in SUD assessments, adopting a holistic approach to treatment, and exploring schema therapy as a viable intervention through rigorous research methodologies. Ultimately, this paper highlights that the integration of schema therapy into substance use treatment programs holds promise in revolutionising the approach to SUDs, providing a nuanced and effective therapeutic intervention for individuals seeking lasting recovery and improved quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and facial emotion recognition. The authors propose a framework for understanding the variance in schemas and conducted a study with adult participants in Iran. The results showed that a general susceptibility factor consistently emerged from the schemas, but specific schemas did not show significant correlations with emotion recognition, except for a weak association with anger recognition. The study acknowledges limitations and suggests the need for better assessment procedures and larger sample sizes in future research. The authors also emphasize the importance of considering a general susceptibility factor when evaluating specific schemas. [Extracted from the article]

Exposure to gender‐related minority stressors, the negative experiences and beliefs that stem from anti‐trans stigma increases transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people's vulnerability to experiencing poor mental health outcomes. This study examined if the relationships between experiences of minority stress and mental health outcomes were mediated by early maladaptive schemas: mental representations shaping the way people view themselves, others and the world. Drawing from a schema therapy perspective, the study additionally examined if caregivers' failure to meet TGD people's core emotional needs was associated with mental health outcomes and if schemas similarly mediated these relationships. A total of 619 TGD adults completed an online survey about early maladaptive schemas, core emotional needs, gender‐related minority stress and psychological distress and wellbeing. Causal mediation analyses indicated that caregivers who did not meet TGD people's core emotional needs and greater experiences of minority stress were associated with increased distress and lower wellbeing. These relationships were mediated by schema severity, particularly the disconnection and rejection and impaired autonomy domains. These findings provide empirical support for the schema therapy model's assumption that unmet core emotional needs are associated with schema formation. For TGD people, maladaptive beliefs about the self, others and world can form in response to manifestations of anti‐trans stigma within the individual, their interpersonal relationships, community and broader society. Caregivers' failure to meet needs, plus experiences of minority stress throughout the individual's system, leads to greater distress and lower wellbeing; however, clinical interventions targeting schemas may improve outcomes for this at‐risk group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a short-term, manualized schema therapy group for 77 patients with CBTresistant mood and/or anxiety and/or personality disorders (PDs) in primary care. The primary focus was on the effects of this treatment on Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS), schema modes, and psychological well-being. These aspects were assessed pre-and post-treatment treatment using the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ), the Schema Mode Inventory version 1.1 (SMI), and the Symptom Questionnaire-48 (SQ-48). The treatment consisted of 16 sessions, incorporating cognitive, behavioral, and experiential techniques. EMS significantly decreased from pre-treatment to post-treatment, as along with maladaptive schema modes. Adaptive modes increased, as did psychological wellbeing. There were no significant differences between the DSM-5 classifications regarding changes in the aforementioned measures, except for the maladaptive modes, where the value of the corrected within-subject effect indicated a significant interaction. Post hoc comparisons were therefore conducted which showed that patients with a mood disorder experienced more positive changes in maladaptive modes compared to patients with anxiety disorders and PDs (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between those with PDs and those with Anxiety Disorders. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that short-term, manualized schema therapy might be an effective treatment for patients with CBT-resistant mood and/or anxiety and/or PDs in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many individuals, particularly adolescents, often deal with anxiety which in turn impacts their environmental perception. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group schema therapy and cognitive bias modification (CBM) on test anxiety in high school male adolescents. Method: This was a semi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design, two experimental groups, and a control group. The statistical population included all male high school students of Abadan, Iran in the academic year of 2020-2023. A total number of 45 people were selected using the convenience sampling method from secondary high schools in Abadan, Iran. Fortyfive students were assigned into two experimental groups and a control group (15 students in each group). The first experimental group received schema therapy (eight 90-minute sessions; one session every week) and the second experimental group received cognitive bias modification (eight 20-minute sessions; two sessions every week). The control group was considered on the waiting list. The General Self-Efficacy Scale was used for data collection. The tools used were Ahvaz Test Anxiety Inventory)ATI) and Probe Dot Task (PDT). SPSS version 25 was applied to analyze covariance. Results: Most of the participants were mathematics (64%) and a tenth grade (62%) students. The study results showed a significant difference between Schema Therapy, CBM, and control groups in test anxiety based on the pre-test and pre-test scores (P=0.001). Also, the experimental and control groups had significant differences in reaction time and attentional bias based on the pre-test and pre-test scores (P=0.001, P=0.025, P=0.038, P=0.026). The Schema Therapy and CBM groups also showed a significant difference between pre-test and post-test observations (P=0.001). However, no difference was found in the control group based on pre-test and post-test scores (P=0.054, P=0.424, P=0.709, P=0.066). Conclusions: Schema therapy and CBM groups showed a significant difference in test anxiety between the pre-test and post-test observations. However, no difference was found in the control group. Given the pre- and post-test scores, the CBM experimental group and the control group showed significant differences in reaction time and attentional bias However, there were no significant differences in the control group. Thus, it can be concluded that these two treatment models can be used to reduce the mentioned psychological abnormalities in students and help improve their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The military to civilian transition process is often associated with a negative impact on psychosocial functioning. Contemporary approaches to understand this are moving away from focussing on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to examine the military cultural and environmental impacts of service. Schema theory can provide a useful conceptual framework for understanding these issues. The aim of this study was to explore Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS) across three samples: transitioned military personnel, veterans and first responders with PTSD, and general adults. Method: This cross-sectional research used a transitioned military sample recruited specifically for this study (N = 94) and two comparison samples of veterans and first responders diagnosed with PTSD (N = 218), and general adults (N = 264) from previous research. Participants completed a Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ). Independent t-tests were conducted to compare the three samples. Results: Transitioned military personnel were significantly higher than the general adults on the EMS of Vulnerability to Harm, Entitlement, Emotional Inhibition, Punitiveness and Unrelenting Standards and lower on the schema of Enmeshment. Transitioned military personnel were significantly lower than the PTSD sample on 11 out of the 18 EMS. Conclusions: The cluster of EMS evident in the transitioned military sample were conceptualised as 'The Military Mode'. This conceptual framework can be used to understand the psycho-social issues experienced by transitioned military personnel and to inform interventions to promote successful transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Schema Therapy, an approach that integrates cognitive-behavioural and attachment principles, helps us understand the impact of early interactions with caregivers on adult mental health. These early interactions can be assessed through Schema Therapy-informed tools; however, these tools have yet to be used with a postnatal population, which represents a period of vulnerability for new mothers. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of positive and negative early parenting interactions on a first-time mother's mental health and her sense of competence during the postnatal period, using recently revised and newly developed Schema Therapy-informed tools. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Method: First-time mothers (N = 220) participated in an online survey within 12 months post-birth. Participants completed the Positive Parenting Schema Inventory (PPSI), Young Parenting Inventory—Revised (YPI-R2), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale. The data were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression and mediational analysis. Results: Negative early interactions with mothers and fathers led to greater postnatal depressive symptomology, while positive early interactions with mothers led to fewer postnatal depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses revealed that postnatal depressive symptoms mediated early parenting interactions and participants' sense of parenting competence as a new mother. Conclusions: The protective effects of positive early interactions with caregivers can help first-time mothers' postnatal emotional adjustment and their sense of competence through diminished postnatal depressive symptoms. However, the enduring effects of negative early interactions with caregivers can contribute to a first-time mother's risk of developing postnatal depression and negatively affect her sense of parental competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Schema Therapy on cognitive emotion regulation and Emotional Behavior Regulation in mothers with children with learning disabilities. Based on purpose the research was applied with a semi-experimental design with pre-test, and post-test. The statistical population of the study was mothers of children with learning disabilities in Tehran in the first six months of 1400. The sample consisted of 30 mothers who were selected as the final sample by purposive sampling method and were randomly divided into two groups of experiments and control (each Group 15 mothers). Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire by Garnefski and Kraaij (2002) and Emotional Behavior Regulation by Garnefski and Kraaij (2019) were used. The experimental group received eight sessions of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and the control group received no therapy. The results of covariance analysis showed that the Perceived Stress and Emotional Behavior Regulation was significantly different in the experimental group (P 0.01). So Schema Therapy can be used effectively on cognitive emotion regulation and Emotional Behavior Regulation in mothers with children with learning disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Marital infidelity is the primary reason couples seek divorce, leading them to family counseling clinics. The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on marital relationship quality and emotion regulation in couples affected by infidelity. Methods and Materials: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test control group design. The population included all couples in Nowshahr affected by infidelity in 2023. The sample consisted of 30 couples affected by infidelity (15 for the control group and 15 for the experimental group), selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups. Data collection tools were the Busby et al. (1995) Marital Relationship Quality Questionnaire and the Garnefski and Kraaij (2006) Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. For data analysis, mean, standard deviation were used in the descriptive section, and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and SPSS version 26 were employed in the inferential section. Findings: The results showed that schema therapy had a significant effect on marital relationship quality (F = 72.99, P < 0.01) and emotion regulation (F = 51.44, P < 0.01) in couples affected by infidelity. Conclusion: It can be concluded that schema therapy was effective in improving marital relationship quality and emotion regulation in couples affected by infidelity, and can be utilized to reduce psychological problems in such couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infertility is a prevalent condition in women in the reproductive age, which is often followed by psychological problems. Aim: This study examined the effectiveness of schema therapy vs. mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on worry and psychological well-being in infertile women. Method: This research was conducted in the form of a multi-group quasi-experimental design with pre-test-post-test and follow-up with a control group. Among the infertile women referred to infertility centers in Sari city in 2022, 45 women were selected using an available sampling method and randomly assigned to two intervention groups and one control group. The schema therapy group received 12 sessions and the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy group received interventions related to their group in 8 sessions once a week. The participants of three groups completed Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scale (RPWBS; 1990) and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ; Meyer et al., 1990) in the pre-test, post-test and 3-month follow-up phases. Analyses were performed using Student's t test, Chi-squared, and mixed ANOVA where appropriate. Results: There was a significant difference between the schema-based therapy and mindfulness groups with the control group. Both schema therapy and MBCT had significant effects on reducing worry and increasing psychological well-being in infertile women (P0/05). Conclusion: This study showed similar effects of both the schema and mindfulness-based therapies on the worry and psycholgical well-being in infertile women in Iran. Therefore, experts, researchers and therapists in this field can use these interventions as effective treatment options to improve the psychological functions of infertile women along with their medical treatments

This research aimed to determin the effectiveness of schema therapy on stress, social adaptation and psychological cohesion of women with cancer. The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the research was all women with cancer in Dezful city of Iran in 2022. The sample consisted of 30 women with cancer, who were selected by the available sampling method and according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. The experimental group received eight 90-minute weekly sessions of the intervention. The tools were used in this research included perceived stress questionnaires, social adjustment questionnaire and sense of coherence questionnaire (before, after and two months later after the schema therapy). Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of stress, social adjustment and psychological cohesion in women with cancer. According to these findings, schema therapy can be suggested as an effective method to reduce stress and increase social adaptation and psychological cohesion in women with cancer.

Background: Students with a social anxiety disorder (SAD) face a variety of problems such as early dropout, academic failure, and avoidance of social situations. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction training on cognitive avoidance and emotion regulation strategies in female students with SAD through an emotional schema therapy (EST) approach.Methods: In this semi-experimental study, a Pretest-Posttest Control Group design was used. The study population included female high school students with SAD in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2023. Out of 120 students with SAD who met the inclusion criteria, 75 were randomly selected as the study participants and were then assigned to three groups of 25 (two experimental groups and one control group). Training sessions for mindfulness-based stress management and EST were conducted in eight 90-minute sessions twice a week. For data collection, the Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were used. Data analysis was done using the ANCOVA test and SPSS version 23. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: In the posttest, mean±SD for cognitive avoidance, reappraisal, and suppression in the mindfulness-based stress reduction training group was 50.71±6.78, 32.87±2.65, and 14.08±5.68, respectively; suggesting a significant difference as compared with the control group (82.91±2.18, 12.53±6.75, and 20.81±2.74) (P

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with high rates of cluster C personality disorders (PD), which may negatively affect PTSD treatment. It is unknown whether concurrent treatment for PTSD and comorbid PD leads to superior treatment effects, compared to standard trauma-focused treatment.Objective: The objective was to test the efficacy of adding personality disorder treatment (group schema therapy; GST) to individual trauma-focused treatment (imagery rescripting; ImRs).Method: A two-arm randomized clinical trial (1:1 allocation ratio) was conducted between 2018 and 2023 at two sites of a mental health institution in the Netherlands. Raters were blind to treatment allocation. Adult outpatients with PTSD and comorbid cluster C personality disorders were randomized to receive either ImRs (12–18 sessions) or ImRs + GST (12–18 ImRs + 52–58 GST). The main outcome was PTSD severity one year after start of treatment measured with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5.Results: Of 130 patients (mean [SD] age = 40.6 [11.2], 110 [85%] females), 66 were assigned to ImRs and 64 to ImRs + GST. At 12 months, there were large decreases in PTSD severity (dImRs = 2.42, 95%CI = 1.97–2.87; dImRs + GST = 2.44, 95%CI = 1.99–2.90), but there was no significant difference between conditions (d = 0.02, 95%CI = −0.33–0.36, p = .944). Reductions in personality disorder symptoms and all other secondary outcomes were observed in both conditions. There were no significant differences between conditions on any of the secondary outcomes at 12 months.Conclusion: The more intensive concurrent trauma-focused and personality disorder treatment (ImRs + GST) was not superior to trauma-focused treatment alone (ImRs) for patients with PTSD and comorbid CPD. This suggests that trauma-focused treatment is the preferred primary treatment in patients presenting with both internalizing personality disorder and PTSD, reserving the stepping up to more intensive psychotherapy aimed at the personality disorder as a second line of treatment.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03833531

Background: Amongst "third-wave" cognitive behavioural therapies, schema therapy demonstrates encouraging efficacy across various mental health conditions. Within this field, clinical interest has begun to converge on the "schema-mode-model" -- a conceptualization framework for affective, cognitive and behavioral states that guide individuals' perceptions and behaviours at a given point in time. Schema mode expressions in patients with chronic tinnitus are as-yet unexamined. Methods: The present study reports self-report data from N = 696 patients with chronic tinnitus who completed the Schema Mode- and Tinnitus Handicap Inventories alongside measures of perceived stress, anxiety and depression. The Schema Mode Inventory assesses so-called maladaptive "parent", "child" and "coping" modes. Parent modes can be understood as self-states which are characterized by self-critical and hostile beliefs; child modes are characterized by biographically unmet emotional needs; and coping modes by inflexible attempts to regulate emotion and stabilize one's sense of self. Descriptive, correlational and mediation analyses investigated schema mode expressions (1) in patients with chronic tinnitus, (2) as compared to published reference values from a healthy control sample, (3) in their relation to other psychological constructs, and (4) regarding their potential role in driving tinnitus-related distress. Results: Patients reported mild-to-moderate levels of emotional distress. Compared to healthy controls, patients showed (1) high relative expressions of child-, detachment and compliant coping modes and (2) a conspicuously low relative expression of the 'punitive parent' mode. Correlational patterns suggested strong associations of (1) parent as well as angry child modes with perceived stress and anxiety, (2) the vulnerable childmodewith all measured constructs and (3) emotional distress with - intrapersonally - emotional detachment as well as - interpersonally - alleged compliance. Mediation analyses demonstrated that tinnitus-related distress was driven by significant interactions between child and coping modes. Conclusions: The study provides initial clinical evidence for the relevance and applicability of schema-mode based formulation and treatment planning in patients with chronic tinnitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schema therapy is effective for most outpatients with personality disorders (PDs). However, a subgroup does not sufficiently benefit from outpatient programmes. Despite its common clinical use, a thorough evaluation of day treatment group schema therapy (GST) is lacking. Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of day treatment GST for patients with PDs. Methods and Procedures: Negative core beliefs were the primary outcome in a multiple baseline single‐case design, measured weekly before and during 30 weeks of day treatment GST. Secondary outcomes included severity of primary PD, early maladaptive schemas (EMS), schema modes and general psychopathology measured before and after day treatment GST. Intervention effects were evaluated through visual inspection and randomization test analysis, with a reliable change index calculated for the secondary outcome measures. Outcomes and Results: A total of 79% of treatment completers showed a significant positive effect of day treatment GST with large effect sizes (Cohen's d: 0.96–10.04). Secondary outcomes supported these findings: 56% had a significant decrease in the severity of primary PD and 53% in general psychopathology. In addition, 63% of EMS and 72% of schema modes (87.5% for functional schema modes) showed significant positive reliable changes. Conclusions and Implications: This is the first empirical study that demonstrated the effectiveness of day treatment GST in patients with severe PDs. Day treatment GST can serve as a stepped care treatment option for nonresponsive patients in outpatient programmes. Further randomized controlled (cost‐)effectiveness research is necessary to substantiate these findings and investigate the specific patient populations for which day treatment is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The evidence base for schema therapy has evolved significantly since it was first developed by Jeffrey Young in the 1990s. The aim of this bibliometric analysis was to summarize the trends and characteristics of the quantitative literature on schema therapy. Method: PsycINFO, PubMed and CINAHL Complete databases were last searched on 1 June 2023 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses 2020 statement to identify peer‐reviewed journal articles written in English that reported on original quantitative research on schema therapy or schema therapy constructs. NVivo was used to complete a descriptive analysis of the bibliographic, sample and study characteristics, and a coding framework was applied to capture the aspect of the schema therapy model that was the focus of each study, as well as the study context (e.g., the population or outcomes under investigation). SciVal was used to complete citations and authorship analyses. VOSviewer was used to examine co‐authorship networks. Results: A total of 704 quantitative studies on schema therapy were published by 483 unique first authors between 1994 and mid‐2023. Studies predominantly used correlational designs with small samples (Mdn N = 153) of mostly females aged 18 years or older. The articles tended to focus on early maladaptive schemas, rather than schema domains or schema modes. Schema therapy and its concepts were most frequently studied in the context of depression and personality disorders. SciVal analyses indicated that, on average, articles were cited 27 times, with a Field Weighted Citation Impact of 1.02. Conclusions: Schema therapy research output appears to have slowed in recent years and several critical research gaps were evident. Areas of high priority for future research include schema modes and coping responses, and the use of developmental and longitudinal designs to evaluate several key causal assumptions in the theory underpinning schema therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes a therapeutic approach that was used with an Egyptian female client who sought treatment for persistent depressive disorder at an outpatient clinic in Cairo, Egypt. This approach was based on an integration of schema therapy, which examined the developmental origins of early maladaptive schemas acquired by individuals with depression, with Kleinman's cultural explanatory model, which emphasized the cultural meaning given to the cause, severity, and prognosis of this disorder. As shown in the case report, early maladaptive schemas adopted by the client were understood in their cultural and religious contexts, and this cultural understanding enhanced therapeutic connection and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]