Cognitive Group Therapy Based on Schema-Focused Approach for Reducing Depression in Prisoners Living With HIV

Abstract

Depression is one the most common mental disorders in prisons. People living with HIV are more likely to develop psychological difficulties when compared with the general population. This study aims to determine the efficacy of cognitive group therapy based on schema-focused approach in reducing depression in prisoners living with HIV. The design of this study was between-groups (or "independent measures"). It was conducted with pretest, posttest, and waiting list control group. The research population comprised all prisoners living with HIV in a men's prison in Iran. Based on voluntary desire, screening, and inclusion criteria, 42 prisoners living with HIV participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to an experimental group (21 prisoners) and waiting list control group (21 prisoners). The experimental group received 11 sessions of schema-focused cognitive group therapy, while the waiting list control group received the treatment after the completion of the study. The various groups were evaluated in terms of depression. ANCOVA models were employed to test the study hypotheses. Collated results indicated that depression was reduced among prisoners in the experimental group. Schema therapy (ST) could reduce depression among prisoners living with HIV/AIDS.

Interventions Addressing Depression and HIV-Related Outcomes in People with HIV

“…Regardless of the type (i.e., coping improvement, mindfulness-based, schemafocused, and culturally tailored), PWH benefited from group therapy as they presented fewer depressive symptoms following the intervention period. Despite half the studies not requiring a depression criterion [24,28,29], short-term effects on depression were displayed across all the studies. One study found that depressive symptoms decreased over the 8-month follow-up period [24], and another found trends toward depressive symptoms decreasing at 12-month follow-up [27•].…”

“…Adopting a distinct approach toward group interventions, Jalali et al [28] conducted a randomized controlled trial with 42 men with HIV in prison to test a schema-focused approach for reducing depression. Participants must have presented mild depressive symptoms or greater at baseline but could not have had a clinical depression diagnosis before their incarceration and HIV diagnosis.…”

Mental health interventions for persons living with HIV in low‐ and middle‐income countries: a systematic review

“…The study’s total sample size ranged from 32 to 1140, intervention sample sizes ranged from 19 to 578 and control group sample sizes ranged from 13 to 562. The majority of studies (n = 22, 73.33 %) reported on interventions for depression [33‐55]. Major depressive disorder was confirmed using diagnostic interviews such as SCID or MINI in three studies [34‐36].…”

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Temperament and Character Dimensions and Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in Patients with HIV

“…It was concluded in a study that schema therapy contributes to the improvement of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in patients with HIV (Farmani-Shahreza, Ghaedniay-jahromi, Mohammad-Taghi Nasab, Niknezhad & et al, 2017). A study was conducted on female prisoners who suffer from HIV and results showed that schema therapy-based cognitive therapy could reduce psychological, emotional, and depression problems (Jalali, Hasani, Hashemi, Kimiaei & Babaei, 2019). In another research, findings implied the positive effectiveness of schema therapy in reducing emotion dysregulation (Dadomo, Panzeri, Caponcello, Carmelita & Grecucci, 2018).…”