Investigating the Effect of Integrative Psychotherapy on Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Compassion in People with Gender Dysphoria

Fakorian , Somayeh; Andalib, Sima

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Fakorian S, Andalib S. Investigating the Effect of Integrative Psychotherapy on Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Compassion in People with Gender Dysphoria. MEJDS 2025; 15 (0) :67-67
URL: http://jdisabilstud.org/article-1-3342-en.html

Investigating the Effect of Integrative Psychotherapy on Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Compassion in People with Gender Dysphoria

Somayeh Fakorian¹

, Sima Andalib ^*²

1- MA Student in Clinical Psychology, Department of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract: (1059 Views)

Abstract
Background & Objectives: Gender dysphoria is often associated with a person's dissatisfaction with physical appearance. Undesirable physical appearance may lead to an uncertain understanding of gender identity. The mismatch between the genders that people experience and the genders to which they are attributed in society leads to dissatisfaction among individuals. Adolescents and young adults with gender dysphoria have more suicidal thoughts than the normal population, as well as self–compassion as a potential barrier to suicidal thoughts. Integrated meta–diagnostic therapy has emerged as the recommended approach to treating multiple disorders, as it is more economical and offers a more efficient strategy for addressing concurrent disorders by identifying common causes and maintenance mechanisms across various disorders, thereby integrating conventional psychotherapy in clinical psychology. Positive psychotherapy has also been explored in research, and the need for extensive investigation into the effectiveness of emerging therapies is recognized. The present study aimed to examine the effect of integrated psychotherapy on suicidal thoughts and self–compassion in people with gender dysphoria.
Methods: This study was an experimental clinical trial with a pretest–posttest design and a control group. In this study, the statistical community included all people with gender dysphoria at the Psychotherapy Intervention Center in Isfahan Province, Iran, in the winter of 2022. The statistical sample of the study consisted of 30 qualified volunteers, who were randomly assigned to two groups of witnesses (15 people) and experiments (15 people). Subjects were included in the study based on available and purposive sampling after obtaining the necessary permits to conduct the study from among the registrants. The criteria for inclusion of subjects in the study were having a gender dysphoria and having at least an elementary education. The criteria for exclusion from the study were withdrawal from further participation in the study, failure to complete the questionnaires, and two absences from educational sessions. For screening before the intervention, questionnaires were completed in person by the participants. Members of the experimental and control groups completed the questionnaires before the implementation of the therapeutic intervention and immediately after the completion of the therapeutic sessions. Additionally, informed consent was obtained from the participants before the commencement of the sessions. The subjects of the experimental group received eight 90–minute sessions of integrated psychotherapy training. The intervention was conducted by a psychotherapist under the supervision of an integrative psychotherapist. The control group received no intervention.
The research tools were the Scale for Suicide Ideation (Beck et al., 1988) and the Self–compassion Scale–Short Form (Neff, 2003). Data analysis was performed in SPSS software version 26 at two levels: descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. At the descriptive statistics level, mean, standard deviation, percentage, and frequency were used. At the inferential statistics level, multivariate analysis of covariance was used. Data analysis was performed at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The results showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in suicidal thoughts (p=0.033) and self–compassion (p=0.014) at the posttest. Also, 58.3% of the changes in suicidal ideation and 71.3% of the changes in self–compassion were due to the effect of integrative psychotherapy.
Conclusion: Based on the study findings, the use of an integrated psychotherapy approach is useful for reducing suicidal thoughts and increasing self–compassion in people with gender dysphoria.

Keywords: Integrative psychotherapy, Gender dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Self–compassion, Self–harm

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Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Psychology

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