Effect of Emotion-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Social Adjustment and Experiential Avoidance in Iranian Disabled Veterans

Introduction: Lack of social adjustment and experiential avoidance is attributed to many disorders and behavioral problems. The current study aimed at determining the effect of emotion-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (ECBT) on social adjustment and experiential avoidance in Iranian disabled veterans. Materials and Methods: The current semi-experimental study with the case and control groups and pretest and posttest design was conducted on 40 Iranian disabled veterans covered by Bonyad Shahid of Gilan-e-gharb City in 2018. The subjects were selected by convenience sampling method. The demographic information, the Paykel social adjustment, and the Bond acceptance and action questionnaires were employed for data collection. Data were analyzed using MNCOVA. Results: The obtained results showed a significant decrease in the mean score of experiential avoidance in the training group after receiving ECBT compared with the control group (P<0.05). Also, the mean score of social adjustment was significantly lower in the intervention group after receiving the treatment compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: ECBT was effective with the emphasis on correcting distorted cognition and teaching new behaviors, understanding excitement, understanding emotion, and adjusting excitement to increase social adjustment and reduce experiential avoidance in disabled veterans.