نگین خوشوقت - Department of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
فرح نادری - Department of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
سحر صفرزاده - Department of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
مرجان علیزاده - Department of Psychology, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

Background & Aims of the Study: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common chronic motor disability in children. CP can cause depression and anxiety in the mothers of affected children. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) on anxiety and depression in the mothers of children with CP. Materials and Methods: This was an experimental study with a pre-test, post-test and follow-up and a control group design. The study sample consisted of ۴۰ mothers of children with CP who were selected by convenience sampling method. We randomly divided the study participants into experimental and control groups (n=۲۰/group). The research instruments included the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The experimental group underwent eight ۶۰-minute sessions weekly sessions of CFT. The follow-up step was performed after ۴۵ days. The obtained data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics, such as mean, standard deviation, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). Data analysis was performed using SPSS v. ۲۴. Results: The Mean±SD pre-test and post-test scores of anxiety and depression were measured as ۲۸.۸۰±۹.۲۴) and ۱۶.۲۵±۷.۴۰ in the experimental group and ۳۸.۸۰±۱۰.۲۷ and ۲۸.۰۰±۵.۰۱, respectively in the control group. The obtained results suggested that CFT effectively reduced anxiety and depression in the explored mothers of children with CP (P<۰.۰۱). Conclusion: According to the present study results, CFT can be used to reduce anxiety and depression in the mothers of children with CP and accordingly improve their quality of life.

Anxiety, Depression, Cerebral palsy, Mothers, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Empathy