Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness Therapy and Transactional Analysis on Sexual Function and Marital Commitment in Female Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy and transactional analysis on sexual function and marital commitment in female patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods and Materials: In this study, 20 women with bipolar disorder, who referred to Gyrus Specialty Neurology and Psychiatry Clinic in Tehran, were selected through purposive sampling from April to August 2022 and were randomly assigned to three groups: mindfulness therapy, transactional analysis therapy, and a control group. All participants completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) by Rosen et al. (2000) and the Marital Commitment Questionnaire by Adams and Jones (1997) before and after the intervention. The mindfulness therapy group received eight sessions of 90 to 120 minutes, twice weekly, while the transactional analysis therapy group underwent nine sessions of 60 to 120 minutes, also twice weekly. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis.

Findings: The results indicated that both mindfulness therapy and transactional analysis therapy positively affected sexual function and marital commitment in female patients with bipolar disorder. Furthermore, the comparison of the effectiveness of the two therapies in all dimensions showed that mindfulness therapy had a greater impact on both sexual function and marital commitment in these patients compared to transactional analysis therapy.

Conclusion: Both mindfulness therapy and transactional analysis significantly improved sexual function and marital commitment in women with bipolar disorder, with mindfulness showing greater effectiveness. These findings suggest the potential benefits of incorporating mindfulness techniques into therapeutic practices for enhancing marital and sexual well-being.