Effect of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Perceived Stress and Coping Skills of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) is the first and the most important leading cause of mortality in Iran. Psychological factors play a key role in the onset and exacerbation of this disease.  Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) on perceived stress and coping skills of patients following AMI.  Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial with pre-test/ post-test/follow-up design conducted in 2018 on 30 patients with diagnosed AMI after discharge from Noor Heart Clinic in Rasht, Iran. The patients were randomly divided into intervention (5 females and 10 males) and control (8 females and 7 males) groups. Assessment tools included the Perceived Stress Scale and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire that were completed before and after intervention and during a 3-month follow-up period. The intervention group received DBT at 8 sessions of 90 minutes per week for 2 months. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni Post Hoc test.  Results: The DBT had significant effects on the perceived stress (F=6.21, P<0.05), problem-focused coping strategy (F=5.00, P<0.05) and emotion-focused coping strategy (F=15.20, P<0.001). Conclusion: Dialectical behavior therapy can reduce the perceived stress and improve the coping skills of patients following AMI.