Effects of Schema Therapy and ISTDP on Resilience, Emotion Regulation, and Self-Compassion in Women with a History of Trauma

Alireza Ahangaran; Pardis Tadayon; Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paidar; Hossein Mohagheghi; Javad Moshfeghi Vahed; Fatemeh Mirzai

doi:10.61838/

Authors

Alireza Ahangaran Ms.C. in General Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

Pardis Tadayon * Ms.C. in General Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran pardistadayon97@gmail.com

Mohammad Reza Zoghi Paidar Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

Hossein Mohagheghi Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

Javad Moshfeghi Vahed Ms. C. in General Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, Hamedan, Iran

Fatemeh Mirzai Ms.C. in General Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.61838/

Keywords:

schema therapy, intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy, resilience, emotion regulation, self-compassion, trauma, women

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on resilience, emotion regulation, and self-compassion in women with a history of trauma. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up, including a control group. The statistical population consisted of women aged 20 to 45 years in Hamadan, Iran, in 2025. A total of 60 participants were initially selected using purposive sampling and assigned to three groups (schema therapy, ISTDP, and control), each consisting of 20 participants. Due to attrition, the final sample included 49 participants. The experimental groups received 15 sessions of intervention (90 minutes each), while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; Connor & Davidson, 2003), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), and the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF; Raes et al., 2011). Data were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures analysis of variance. The results indicated that both schema therapy and ISTDP significantly improved resilience, emotion regulation, and self-compassion compared to the control group (p < .001). Additionally, the interaction effect of time and group was significant for all variables, indicating different patterns of change across groups. The findings also showed that ISTDP was more effective than schema therapy in improving emotion regulation, while no significant difference was observed between the two treatments in resilience and self-compassion. Overall, the findings suggest that both schema therapy and ISTDP are effective interventions for improving psychological functioning in women with trauma. However, ISTDP may be particularly beneficial for enhancing emotion regulation.