Comparison of the effect of grief counseling based on Compassion-Focused Therapy and counseling based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on self-compassion and self-efficacy of women who experienced fetal loss: a randomized controlled trial.

Comparison of the effect of grief counseling based on Compassion-Focused Therapy and counseling based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on self-compassion and self-efficacy of women who experienced fetal loss

A parallel clinical trial with a single-blind control group (participants) on 90 women will be assigned to two intervention groups and a control group in a ratio of 1:1:1 using a random block design of 4 and 6. To conceal the allocation, consecutively numbered, sealed opaque envelopes will be used.

Among mothers who have experienced fetal loss during pregnancy from 8 weeks to 40 weeks and are hospitalized in the obstetrics and surgery departments of Al-Zahra and Taleghani hospitals, after completing the forms through an interview or virtual press line. Group counseling for both groups will last 45-60 minutes, sessions will be held in a combined (in-person or virtual) and group (4-5 people) format on Google Meet or at the request of the women (the location of the in-person sessions will be determined) twice a week. The post-test will be taken one week after the intervention is completed.

Inclusion criteria: desired pregnancy, having a smartphone, access to the internet, at least literacy; Non inclusion criteria: abortion with the patient's own consent due to family conflicts, divorce, etc. death of a first-degree relative within the last 6 months, participation in two studies simultaneously, history of proven mental illness, psychiatric treatment and use of psychotropic medications

Intervention 1: Grief counseling based on a CFT Intervention 2: Grief group counseling based on ACT Control: Receiving routine obstetric counseling

Comparing the average self-compassion score; Comparing the average self-efficacy score

Participants were divided into the first and second intervention groups using the random block method of 4 and 6 (recipients of bereavement counseling with a compassion-based treatment approach and those receiving bereavement counseling with an acceptance and commitment-based approach, respectively) and the control group. They will be allocated by a person not involved in other stages of the research in the ratio of 1:1:1. In order to hide the allocation (allocation concealment), the types of groups will be written on paper by a person not involved in the research and numbered consecutively inside sealed opaque envelopes. The envelopes will be opened in the order in which the participants enter the research, and in this way the type of group of people will be determined.

Because this study is a randomized controlled trial of psychological interventions, the blinding method is designed so that participants are unaware of their grouping, but the therapists and researchers are aware of it. Therefore, this study is conducted in a single-blind manner. Participants are unaware of the type of treatment they are receiving. They only know that they are participating in a counseling program to help them cope with the loss of the fetus, but they are not told whether they are in the compassion focused therapy group, acceptance and commitment therapy group or the control group. To ensure blinding, the names of the counseling sessions are presented to participants in a generic and non-differentiated manner (e.g., “Post-Bereavement Psychological Support Program,” without reference to the type of therapy).