Effectiveness of Group Therapy Reality in Reducing Depression, Anxiety and Increased Compliance to Treatment in Patients with Diabetic Type 1

Background and Objective: Compared to the general population, psychiatric problems are more prevalent in Type 1 Diabetes patients and can affect the success of diabetes treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group reality therapy in decreasing depression/anxiety and increasing treatment compliance in patients with Type 1 Diabetes in Zanjan in 2017. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design was performed on 40 patients that were selected through convenient sampling and were randomly assigned into two groups (experimental and control) after equalizing the groups according to age, sex, education and illness duration. Both groups were tested via Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Morisky compliance with treatment (MMAS) and Gus overall compliance questionnaires. The experimental group received reality therapy for 8 sessions each week for two months and then performed the posttest. Data were analyzed with MANOVA and ANOVA. Results: Findings showed that reality therapy decreased depression and anxiety and increased treatment compliance in the experimental group compared to the control group. There was a significant difference between the experimental and control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, reality therapy could be used for patients with Type 1 Diabetes who suffer from depression, anxiety and have low treatment compliance.