A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy on Pain Self-Efficacy in Patients with Psychosomatic Disorders

Parisa  Khanipoor Kakesh; Moloud Keykhosrovani; Seyed Asghar  Mousavi

Authors

Parisa Khanipoor Kakesh Department of Psychology, Bu.C., Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9164-6497
Moloud Keykhosrovani Department of Psychology, Bu.C., Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0388-4265
Seyed Asghar Mousavi Department of Psychology, Bu.C., Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1287-2284

Keywords:

Intensive Short, Term Psychodynamic Therapy, Emotion, Focused Therapy, Pain Self, Efficacy, Psychosomatic Disorders, Psychological Interventions, Chronic Pain

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy on pain self-efficacy among patients diagnosed with psychosomatic disorders.

Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up period. The statistical population consisted of patients with psychosomatic disorders who referred to Niayesh Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran between July 2024 and March 2025. Forty-five participants meeting inclusion criteria were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and a control group (15 participants in each group). The experimental groups received structured therapeutic interventions across weekly sessions, while the control group remained on a waiting list without treatment. Data were collected using the Takata and Sakata Psychosomatic Complaint Scale and the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-28 at descriptive and inferential levels, including analysis of covariance, mixed analysis of variance, repeated-measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc tests.

Findings: Analysis of covariance indicated that both Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy (p = 0.008) and Emotion-Focused Therapy (p < 0.001) significantly improved pain self-efficacy compared with the control group, with Emotion-Focused Therapy demonstrating a larger effect size. Repeated-measures analysis revealed a significant effect of time (p < 0.001) and a significant interaction between time and group (p < 0.001), confirming differential change patterns across interventions. Bonferroni post hoc comparisons showed that both experimental groups had significantly higher adjusted posttest scores than the control group, while no significant difference was observed between the two treatment approaches. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated significant improvements from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow-up in both intervention groups, with no significant decline between posttest and follow-up, indicating stability of treatment effects.

Conclusion: Both Intensive Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy were effective in enhancing pain self-efficacy among patients with psychosomatic disorders, and the improvements remained stable over time, suggesting that emotion-oriented psychological interventions can play a significant role in strengthening adaptive coping and psychological functioning in psychosomatic populations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Arabkhradmand, J. (2021). The Effect of Schema Therapy on Pain Acceptance, Pain Self-Efficacy, Pain Intensity, Emotion Regulation in Spinal Column Surgery Patients. J Anesth, 11(4), 19-29. https://research.iaun.ac.ir/pd/h.rezaei/pdfs/PaperM_1549.pdf

Caldiroli, A., Capuzzi, E., Riva, I., Russo, S., Clerici, M., Roustayan, C., Abbass, A., & Buoli, M. (2020). Efficacy of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy in mood disorders: A critical review. Journal of affective disorders, 273, 375-379. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.04.002

Charmi, A., & Zoghi, L. (2023). Prediction of life expectancy based on pain self-efficacy, death obsession, general health with the mediation of emotion regulation in indigent dialysis women. Journal of Assessment and Research in Applied Counseling (JARAC), 5(1), 104-111. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jarac.5.1.14

Chavooshi, B., Mohammadkhani, P., & Dolatshahee, B. (2016). Telemedicine vs. In-Person Delivery of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy for Patients With Medically Unexplained Pain: A 12-Month Randomized, Controlled Trial. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 23(1), 133-141. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633x15627382

Doshmanfana, S., Mosafer, A., Mostafaei, N., Samadifard, N., & Yekta, M. R. (2025). The effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on emotion dysregulation and resilience in patients with chronic pain and depressive symptoms. Health Nexus, 3(1), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.hn.3.1.13

Ebrahimkhani, M., Norouzi, E., Hosseini, A., & Jamshidi, F. (2024). A Randomized Controlled Trial on Cognitive Therapy’s Role in Enhancing Pain Self-Efficacy and Reducing Catastrophizing in Breast Cancer Patients. Psychology of Woman Journal, 5(2), 114-123. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.pwj.5.2.15

Kalapurakkel, S., A. Carpino, Elizabeth, Lebel, Alyssa, E. Simons, Laura. (2014). “Pain Can’t Stop Me”: Examining Pain Self-Efficacy and Acceptance as Resilience Processes Among Youth With Chronic Headache. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 40(9), 926-933. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsu091

Kapadi, R., Elander, J., & Bateman, A. (2024). Emotion Regulation and Psychological Dependence on Pain Medication among Hospital Outpatients with Chronic Spinal Pain: The Influence of Rumination about Pain and Alexithymia. Substance Use & Misuse, 59. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38485654/

Karimi, M., Belyad, M., Peymani, J., Havasi Somar, N., & Zhian Bagheri, M. (2023). Comparing the Effectiveness of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Anxiety Sensitivity and its Components in Women with Chronic Pain. Community Health, 17(3), 1-13. https://chj.rums.ac.ir/article_187141.html?lang=en

Löfstrand, K., Björk Brämberg, E., Flink, I., Wurm, M., & Bergbom, S. (2024). Providing a new transdiagnostic emotion-focused pain treatment in a clinical context: therapists' experiences of facilitators and barriers. Cognitive behaviour therapy, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2024.2417426

Nakhaei Moghadam, R., Bahrainian, S. A., & Nasri, M. (2024). The effectiveness of intensive and short-term dynamic psychotherapy on attachment styles, somatization and health anxiety in patients with chronic pain. Journal of Assessment and Research in Applied Counseling (JARAC), 6(1). https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jarac/article/view/1287

Sahraee Darian, E., Karbalaie, A., & Meigooni, M. (2017). Prediction of pain self-efficacy in patients with liver transplant base on childhood trauma and resilience. Journal of Family and Health, 7(1), 2-. https://www.magiran.com/paper/2278811

Shareh, H., Dalalmoqaddam, F., & Haghi, E. (2019). Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in the meaning in life, emotional distress tolerance and pain self-efficacy in patients with multiple sclerosis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 11(3), 39-50. https://doi.org/10.22075/jcp.2019.16347.1557

Shishefar, H., Fard, F. D., & Nicknam, M. (2024). Prediction of Psychological Pain Based on Emotional Expression With the Mediation of Fear of Intimacy in Girls With Emotional Breakup Experience. Aftj, 5(2), 266-274. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.5.2.29

Soleimani Namaqi, F., Abdollahzadeh, H., & Asadi, J. (2021). Analyzing the Structural Model of Spiritual Health Based on Health Anxiety, Positive Meta-Emotions, and Pain Self-Efficacy, Mediated by Internal Health Locus of Control in Men with Cancer. Behavioral Sciences Research, 19(4), 633-646. https://doi.org/10.52547/rbs.19.4.633

Soleimani Nameghi, F., Abdollahzadeh, H., & Asadi, J. (2021). Structural model analysis of spiritual health based on health anxiety, positive emotions, pain self-efficacy, with the mediation of internal health locus of control in men with cancer. Journal of Behavioral Sciences Research, 19(4), 633-646. https://doi.org/10.52547/rbs.19.4.633ER -

Ying Zhou, B. S. N. (2024). Relationship between pain resilience and pain catastrophizing in older patients after total knee arthroplasty: Chain-mediating effects of cognitive emotion regulation and pain management self-efficacy. Geriatric Nursing, 59, 571-580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.08.011