فصلنامه روانشناسی شناختی

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most common and disabling psychiatric conditions in adolescence, strongly associated with cognitive-emotional constructs such as thought–action fusion (TAF) and intolerance of uncertainty (IU). The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy (EFT) and metacognitive therapy (MCT) on these constructs among female high school students with OCD. The research design was quasi-experimental with a pre-test–post-test control group and a three-month follow-up. The statistical population included all female high school students in Babolsar during the 2023–2024 academic year diagnosed with OCD through psychiatric evaluation and clinical interviews. A total of 45 students were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (15 EFT, 15 MCT, and 15 control). The research instruments included the Thought–Action Fusion Scale–Revised (TAFS-R) and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS). Both intervention groups received eight 90-minute sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test. The results showed that both EFT and MCT significantly reduced TAF and IU compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Moreover, MCT was more effective in reducing TAF, whereas EFT had a stronger impact on reducing IU. These findings highlight the importance of applying emotion-focused and metacognitive approaches in improving cognitive-emotional mechanisms of OCD in adolescents and suggest tailored interventions based on patients’ specific needs.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on marital conflict and the cognitive representation of partner responsiveness in women affected by infidelity. Marital infidelity is considered one of the most severe crises in intimate relationships, leading to extensive consequences such as increased marital conflicts and impairment in the perception and representation of partner responsiveness. Schema therapy, as an integrative and in-depth approach focusing on identifying and modifying early maladaptive schemas, can help rebuild emotional and cognitive patterns in couples. The research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with pretest–posttest and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all married women who referred to counseling centers and psychological clinics in Babol during the winter of 2024 and had reported experiencing marital infidelity. Among them, 45 participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: schema therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and control. The schema therapy group received ten ninety-minute sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Marital Conflict Questionnaire and the Perceived Partner Responsiveness Scale, and analyzed through multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The findings indicated that schema therapy significantly reduced marital conflicts and improved the cognitive representation of partner responsiveness in women affected by infidelity (p < 0.01). Furthermore, schema therapy was more effective than compassion-focused therapy in reducing marital conflict. Based on these results, schema therapy can be considered an effective intervention for improving the psychological consequences of infidelity and may be applied in family counseling centers and clinical interventions for marital crises.