Comparison of the Effects of the Choice Theory and Behavioral Activation Therapies with and without Guided Imagery Rescripting on the Adversity Quotient and Cognitive Emotion Regulation of MS Patients in Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Complications of multiple sclerosis (MS) severely impact self-image and have debilitative effects on the adversity quotient. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the choice theory and behavioral activation therapies with and without guided imagery rescripting on the adversity quotient and cognitive emotion regulation of MS patients in Ahvaz, Iran. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The sample population included the male and female MS patients visiting the Caspian Physiotherapy Center of Ahvaz, Iran in 2019. In total, 60 MS patients were selected via convenience sampling and randomly divided into three experimental groups and one control group (15 per each). Data were collected using the Adversity Response Profile Questionnaire (ARPQ) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Data analysis was performed using the multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: A significant difference was observed between the effects of the choice theory (CT) and behavioral activation (BA) therapies with and without guided imagery rescripting (ImRs) on the improvement of the adversity quotient (AQ) and positive cognitive emotion regulation (CER) of the MS patients, as well as the reduction of negative CER (P < 0.001). Compared to the CT and BA therapies without guided ImRs, the BA therapy with guided ImRs more effectively enhanced the AQ and positive CER of the MS patients and decreased their negative CER (P < 0.001). Conclusions: According to the results, BA with ImRs is a more effective method for enhancing the AQ and positive CER of MS patients and mitigating their negative CER compared to other approaches.