Comparison of the effectiveness of short-term intensive dynamic psychotherapy and mentalization-based therapy on emotional dysregulation, defense mechanisms and insecure attachment styles in women who have experienced the trauma of marital infidelity

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of short-term intensive dynamic psychotherapy and mentalization-based therapy on emotional dysregulation, defense mechanisms and insecure attachment styles in women who have experienced the trauma of marital infidelity. Method: the method of the present study was quasi- experimental with pre- test, post- test, No follow-up period.  From 25 to 45 years old women with have experienced the trauma of marital infidelity in Karaj in 2021, 45 people were selected by available sampling and randomly assigned to three group received (15 people in each group). The research tool included a scale of Adult Attachment Styles, the Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale, and the Defensive Style Questionnaire. On group received short-term intensive psychodynamic therapy (15 sessions of one and a half hours). And one group received mentalization-based therapy (20 sessions of one and a half hours). The control group was placed on a waiting list and did not receive any intervention during the study. Results: the results showed that both interventions had a significant effect on emotional dysregulation, defense mechanisms and insecure attachment styles compared to the control group. The results also showed that mentalization-based therapy is more significant in reducing underdeveloped defense styles than short-term intensive psychotherapy. Conclusion: the results showed that in addition to the effectiveness of both treatments in the mentioned components, but mentalization-based therapy, in competition with short-term intensive psychodynamic therapy is more significant in reducing underdeveloped defense styles.