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1- Department of Psychology, Nae.C., Islamic Azad University, Naein, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Nae.C., Islamic Azad University, Naein, Iran ,researchpnu@yahoo.com
2- Department of Psychology, Nae.C., Islamic Azad University, Naein, Iran ,
Abstract: (11 Views)
Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by severe mood fluctuations and maladaptive coping strategies such as cognitive avoidance. This quasi-experimental study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a neurobehavioral model-based psychological rehabilitation package and mental imagery-based therapy on manic symptom severity and cognitive avoidance in patients with BD.
Methods: The study was conducted during the first half of 2025. Forty-five inpatients with BD at Golestan Hospital (Ahvaz, Iran) were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (n=15 each): neurobehavioral rehabilitation, mental imagery-based therapy, and control. The experimental groups received eight 90-minute sessions. Data were collected using the Mania Symptom Checklist (MSC) and Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ). Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used for data analysis.
Results: Both interventions were associated with significant reductions in manic symptom severity compared to the control group (P<0.001), with no significant difference between the two experimental groups. Regarding cognitive avoidance, significant differences were observed across subscales (P<0.05), with the neurobehavioral rehabilitation package showing greater improvement than mental imagery-based therapy in four out of five subscales.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that both neurobehavioral rehabilitation and mental imagery-based therapy may be beneficial as adjunctive interventions for reducing manic symptoms and cognitive avoidance in patients with BD. Larger controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.
Methods: The study was conducted during the first half of 2025. Forty-five inpatients with BD at Golestan Hospital (Ahvaz, Iran) were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (n=15 each): neurobehavioral rehabilitation, mental imagery-based therapy, and control. The experimental groups received eight 90-minute sessions. Data were collected using the Mania Symptom Checklist (MSC) and Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ). Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used for data analysis.
Results: Both interventions were associated with significant reductions in manic symptom severity compared to the control group (P<0.001), with no significant difference between the two experimental groups. Regarding cognitive avoidance, significant differences were observed across subscales (P<0.05), with the neurobehavioral rehabilitation package showing greater improvement than mental imagery-based therapy in four out of five subscales.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that both neurobehavioral rehabilitation and mental imagery-based therapy may be beneficial as adjunctive interventions for reducing manic symptoms and cognitive avoidance in patients with BD. Larger controlled trials are needed to confirm these results.
Type of Study: Original Research Article |
Subject:
Cognitive behavioral
Received: 2026/04/20 | Accepted: 2026/06/8
Received: 2026/04/20 | Accepted: 2026/06/8
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