Studying the effect of cognitive-behavioral counseling based on interacting cognitive subsystems on depression of infertile couples

Abstract

Objectives: The main purpose of this research is studying the effect of cognitive - behavioral counseling, based on interacting cognitive subsystems (ICS) approach, on depression of infertile couples. Design: The research is quasi experimental. Materials and methods: The sample consists of 30 infertile couples who are placed randomly in the experimental and the control group. Both groups were assessed in two stages, pre- test and post-test, by Beck Depression Inventory. The time laps between pre-test and post-test was 6 weeks. The experimental group was exposed to counseling based on ICS approach in six sessions. Results: The study indicates that counseling based on interacting cognitive subsystems is effective in decreasing the depression of infertile couples in the experimental group than the control group (p<0.0001) and its effect is considerably higher on women than men (p=0.009). Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral counseling based on interacting cognitive subsystems approach is effective in decreasing infertile couples' depression and it would be better to consider it as a part of therapy along with biological therapies related to infertility. Copyright © Middle East Fertility Society.