Feresheh Reza, Javanshir Asadi, Arastoo Mirani, Afsaneh Khajevand Khoshli,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (Volume 13, Issue 1, Spring 2025 2025)
Abstract
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders, often accompanied by maladaptive cognitive patterns such as perfectionism and the cognitive error of thought-action fusion. These dysfunctional beliefs can significantly impair the psychological and social functioning of women. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on reducing perfectionism and thought-action fusion in women with OCD. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest and control group. The statistical population consisted of women diagnosed with OCD who referred to the Sarohana Clinic in Tehran during winter 2024-2025, from whom 45 participants were selected through purposive sampling and assigned to three groups (CBT, short-term psychodynamic therapy, and control). Data were collected using the Revised Thought-Action Fusion Scale (TAF-R), the Ahvaz Perfectionism Questionnaire, and the Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI). The intervention included eight group CBT sessions, each lasting 40 minutes. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA. The results indicated that CBT significantly reduced perfectionism and thought-action fusion compared to the control group (p < 0.01). These findings highlight the effectiveness of CBT in modifying maladaptive cognitive errors and improving psychological well-being in women with OCD.
Hava Mahmoudzadeh Kenari, Dr Afsaneh Khajound Khoshli, Dr Javanshir Asadi,
Volume 13, Issue 2 (Volume 13, Issue 1, Summer 2025 2025)
Abstract
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.
