Comparison of the Effectiveness of Holographic Reprocessing and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy on Cognitive Flexibility and Impulsivity among Depressed Patients with a Suicide Attempt in Ilam, Iran

Introduction: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder throughout life. One of its major consequences is an increase in suicide rates and suicide attempts. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of holographic reprocessing and dialectical behavioral therapy on cognitive flexibility and impulsivity in depressed patients who have attempted suicide.   Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted based on a pre-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of this study included all depressed patients who attempted suicide in Ilam during 2018. In total 45 participants were selected through a simple random sampling and assigned randomly into three groups of holographic reprocessing, dialectical behavior therapy, and control group (15 cases per group). The data were collected using Denis and Vendoral Cognitive Flexibility Scale and The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) through a multivariate analysis of covariance and the Bonferroni test. Ethics code: Ee/98.24.3.57583/SCU.ac.ir    Findings: The results obtained from the multivariate covariance analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the experimental groups (i.e., holographic reprocessing group and dialectical behavioral therapy group) and the control group (F=132.141, P<0.001) regarding the cognitive flexibility and impulsivity. Moreover, according to the results of the Bonferroni test, the dialectical behavior therapy reduced the amount of impulsivity of depressed patients who attempted suicide more than the holographic reprocessing group (P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the dialectical behavioral therapy group and the holographic reprocessing group in terms of the level of cognitive flexibility (P>0.447).   Discussion & Conclusions: Both holographic reprocessing and dialectical behavior therapy can have remarkable effects on the treatment of depressive disorders. In addition, they are considered useful and can be employed as interventions in critical situations in which individuals attempt to commit suicide.