The effect of counseling on self-esteem and health-promoting behaviors in psychiatric patients receiving electroconvulsive therapy: A clinical trial study

Introduction: In comparison to the general population, psychiatric patients have worse physical health and lower self-esteem. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of psychiatric nursing counseling on self-esteem and health-promoting behaviors of patients with psychiatric disorders receiving electroconvulsive therapy. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 114 patients undergoing ECT at Farshchian Hospital in Hamadan, Iran, in 2019. The participants were divided into two groups of intervention (n=57) and control (n=57) by block randomization. Data were collected using the demographic questioner, Rosenberg Self-Esteem questionnaire and Health Promotion Behavior questionnaire. The intervention group was subjected to four individual counseling sessions held twice a week for 60 min. The control group received routine care. The data were analyzed in SPSS-20. Results: There was no significant difference in the mean self-esteem scores of participants in the control and intervention groups before counseling (P=0.542). However, after and two weeks after intervention, there was a significant difference in the mean self-esteem score in both groups (P<0.001). There was significant difference in the mean health-promoting behaviors scores of participants in the control and intervention groups before counseling (P<0.05). Also, this difference between the intervention and control groups was significant immediately and two weeks after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that psychiatric nursing counseling increased self-esteem and prevented the decline of health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, this method can be used in educational programs and nursing care for patients with mental disorders.