The effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on the life expectancy in patients with multiple sclerosis

Context: MS is a chronic and debilitating disease, in which the immune reactions damage myelin sheath of axons in the central nervous system. Psychological consequences of MS and the treatment have been the subject of many research activities.

Aims: The present study examines the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) based on the life expectancy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Setting and Design: This study was a randomized clinical trial and conducted from September 2016 to May 2017 in the MS patients of North Khorasan Province and Shirvan city in 2016.

Methods and Material: This is an applied and quasi experimental research with pretest, posttest, and control group. Using the available sampling method, 30 samples were selected by random assignment and included in experimental and control groups (15 people per group). The instrument used in this study was Schneider's life expectancy questionnaire. The experimental group received eight sessions of therapeutic intervention. Statistical Analysis Used: We used mean and standard deviation, regression line, analyze covariance to analysis of data.

Results: The results of covariance analysis showed that ACT significantly improves life expectancy in patients with MS.

Conclusions: According to the results, it is expected that ACT maintains its effects in the long run with features such as encouraging people to live in the present moment, mindfulness, commitment to the pursuit of worthwhile goals, and an emphasis on process rather than the outcome.