Background and purpose: Today, cognitive-behavioral group therapy is empirically supported in treatment of emotional disorders and in some ​​chronic diseases such as diabetes. The aim of the present research was to study the effect of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA₁c), self-efficacy, depression, illness perception, and quality of life in patients with type II diabetes.
Materials and methods: In this clinical trial, 43 patients were found eligible, of whom 30 were selected using simple random sampling and were divided into two groups: experimental and control. HbA1c was measured in all participants and they completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Self-efficacy in diabetic patients (DMSES), Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), and Diabetes D-39. The experimental group attended 10 training sessions based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (Beck approach), for 1.5 hours, twice a week. The scales were completed again, after the intervention and a month later. The HbA1c was also measured again.
Results: The mean age of participants was 46.5±7.21 years. At first, both groups were heterogeneous in dependent variables. Cognitive behavioral group therapy decraesed depression (P=0.049) and increased illness perception (P=0.005) in patients with type II diabetes, but HbA1c, self efficacy, and quality of life did not change significantly.
Conclusion: In this study, cognitive-behavioral group therapy was found to have positive effects on reducing depression and increasing the illness perception in diabetic patients. Hence, it is suggested along with current treatments in type II diabetes.