Volume 8, Issue 1 (March 2026)
IEEPJ 2026, 8(1): 0-0 |
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Afzali Gorouh A, Jenaabadi H, Fardin M. (2026). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Group Complicated Grief Therapy in Reducing Grief Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation Among Bereaved Survivors of Cancer Patients with Persistent Complicated Grief. IEEPJ. 8(1),
URL: http://ieepj.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-1005-en.html
URL: http://ieepj.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-1005-en.html
1- PhD student, Department of psychology, ZAH.C., Islamic Azad University, Zahedan. Iran
2- Department of psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran ,hjenaabadi@ped.usb.ir
3- Department of Psychology, ZAH.C., Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran
2- Department of psychology, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran ,
3- Department of Psychology, ZAH.C., Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran
Abstract: (69 Views)
Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and group Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT) in reducing grief symptoms and suicidal ideation among bereaved survivors of cancer patients experiencing persistent complicated grief.
Methods: This semi‑experimental study employed a pre‑test–post‑test design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of bereaved individuals who had lost a loved one to cancer and were experiencing pathological grief accompanied by suicidal ideation. Participants were recruited from clinics and counseling centers in Kerman, Iran, in 2023 using convenience sampling. A total of 36 participants were selected and assigned to ACT, CGT, or control groups. Data were collected using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (Prigerson & Maciejewski, 1995) and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine within‑ and between‑group differences at post‑test.
Results: The results indicated that Complicated Grief Therapy led to a significant reduction in grief symptoms among bereaved survivors with pathological grief (p < 0.05). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy also demonstrated a significant effect in reducing grief symptoms (p < 0.05). Furthermore, both CGT and ACT significantly reduced suicidal ideation in participants (p < 0.05). Although both interventions were effective, CGT showed greater effectiveness in alleviating grief symptoms compared to ACT.
Conclusions: Both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Complicated Grief Therapy are effective interventions for reducing grief symptoms and suicidal ideation among bereaved survivors of cancer patients with persistent complicated grief. However, Complicated Grief Therapy appears to be superior in reducing grief severity. These findings support the use of CGT as a targeted intervention for complicated grief, while also highlighting ACT as a beneficial alternative for addressing grief‑related distress and suicidal thoughts.
Methods: This semi‑experimental study employed a pre‑test–post‑test design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of bereaved individuals who had lost a loved one to cancer and were experiencing pathological grief accompanied by suicidal ideation. Participants were recruited from clinics and counseling centers in Kerman, Iran, in 2023 using convenience sampling. A total of 36 participants were selected and assigned to ACT, CGT, or control groups. Data were collected using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (Prigerson & Maciejewski, 1995) and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Statistical analyses were conducted to examine within‑ and between‑group differences at post‑test.
Results: The results indicated that Complicated Grief Therapy led to a significant reduction in grief symptoms among bereaved survivors with pathological grief (p < 0.05). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy also demonstrated a significant effect in reducing grief symptoms (p < 0.05). Furthermore, both CGT and ACT significantly reduced suicidal ideation in participants (p < 0.05). Although both interventions were effective, CGT showed greater effectiveness in alleviating grief symptoms compared to ACT.
Conclusions: Both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Complicated Grief Therapy are effective interventions for reducing grief symptoms and suicidal ideation among bereaved survivors of cancer patients with persistent complicated grief. However, Complicated Grief Therapy appears to be superior in reducing grief severity. These findings support the use of CGT as a targeted intervention for complicated grief, while also highlighting ACT as a beneficial alternative for addressing grief‑related distress and suicidal thoughts.
Keywords: Acceptance and commitment therapy, Complicated grief therapy, Grief symptoms, Suicidal ideation, Cancer survivors
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Educational Psychology
Received: 2025/05/1 | Accepted: 2025/11/3 | Published: 2026/03/1
Received: 2025/05/1 | Accepted: 2025/11/3 | Published: 2026/03/1
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