Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Guided Imagery on the Resilience of Cardiac Disease Patients Referring to the Heart Rehabilitation Department

Aims: One of the most important causes of mortality in the world is cardiovascular disease. Biological backgrounds and physical risk factors, types of stress and distress, ineffective interaction strategies, stressful life events, as well as low levels of resiliency contribute to the start and severity of the disease. The present research tends to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and guided mental imagery on the resiliency in cardiovascular patients referring to cardiac rehabilitation ward through 2018-2019. Materials & Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest and follow-up with control group. Forty-five participants were selected as research samples using available method and completed the Conner-Davidson Resiliency Scale (CD-RIS). Interventions consisted of 8 sessions of 60 minutes each (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group) and 10 sessions of 45 minutes each (Guided Mental Imagery group). Data analysis was performed using repeated measurement covariance analysis and Bonferroni test in spss 22 software. Findings: The research findings showed the effectiveness of the two treatments of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and guided mental imagery on the increase in resiliency of cardiovascular patients. In other words, the results of Bonferroni test indicate the more effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) than guided mental imagery in increasing resiliency is in cardiovascular patients (p<0.005). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with the main acceptance factor, may expand the concept of acceptance with the beliefs of cardiovascular patients on the lack of control over life and increase their resiliency.