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Volume 24, Issue 156 (12-2025)
Journal of Psychological Science 2025, 24(156): 287-304 |
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Afraye R, Aghdasi A N, Tabatabaei S M. (2025). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Depression Severity in Individuals with Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder. Journal of Psychological Science. 24(156), 287-304. doi:10.61186/jps.24.156.17
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-3395-en.html
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-3395-en.html
Department of Psychology, Ta.c., IslamicAzad University, Tabriz, Iran , Aghdasi@iau.ac.ir
Abstract: (9 Views)
Background: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the most debilitating anxiety disorders and is highly comorbid with depression, making the reduction of depressive symptoms in this population a substantial clinical challenge. Cognitive therapy has been recognized as an effective approach for modifying maladaptive thought patterns, whereas transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), as a novel noninvasive technique, has demonstrated potential in modulating neural activity associated with mood regulation. Comparing the effectiveness of these two interventions may contribute to the identification of more efficient strategies for reducing the severity of depression in individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Aims: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the severity of depression in individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Methods: The research employed a quasi‑experimental design with two experimental groups and one control group using a pretest–posttest format. The statistical population consisted of all individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder who referred to counseling centers in Tehran in 2025. Forty‑five individuals diagnosed with OCD based on the DSM‑5‑TR diagnostic guidelines were selected through purposive sampling and assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups participated in treatment sessions of tDCS and Beck’s cognitive therapy according to the selected intervention, while the control group received no intervention. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1961) as both pretest and posttest. The collected data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with SPSS version 25.
Results: The results of the multivariate covariance analysis showed that cognitive therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) significantly affected the severity of depression and its components (affect, cognition, overt behaviors, and somatic symptoms) (p < 0.05). However, the Bonferroni post‑hoc test indicated no significant difference between the Beck cognitive therapy group and the tDCS group in terms of depression scores and its components (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, although no significant difference was observed between the effectiveness of cognitive therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in reducing depression severity, both treatments were effective in improving depressive symptoms. Therefore, their use is recommended in the treatment of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Aims: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the severity of depression in individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Methods: The research employed a quasi‑experimental design with two experimental groups and one control group using a pretest–posttest format. The statistical population consisted of all individuals with obsessive–compulsive disorder who referred to counseling centers in Tehran in 2025. Forty‑five individuals diagnosed with OCD based on the DSM‑5‑TR diagnostic guidelines were selected through purposive sampling and assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. The experimental groups participated in treatment sessions of tDCS and Beck’s cognitive therapy according to the selected intervention, while the control group received no intervention. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1961) as both pretest and posttest. The collected data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with SPSS version 25.
Results: The results of the multivariate covariance analysis showed that cognitive therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) significantly affected the severity of depression and its components (affect, cognition, overt behaviors, and somatic symptoms) (p < 0.05). However, the Bonferroni post‑hoc test indicated no significant difference between the Beck cognitive therapy group and the tDCS group in terms of depression scores and its components (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, although no significant difference was observed between the effectiveness of cognitive therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in reducing depression severity, both treatments were effective in improving depressive symptoms. Therefore, their use is recommended in the treatment of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Keywords: cognitive therapy, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/08/16 | Accepted: 2025/11/19 | Published: 2025/12/31
Received: 2025/08/16 | Accepted: 2025/11/19 | Published: 2025/12/31
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)