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The Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) in Reducing Self-Blame and Repairing the Schema of Imperfection and Shame in Women Affected by Marital Infidelity in Ahvaz City

Protocol summary

Study aim
To determine the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) in reducing self-blame and improving defectiveness/shame schemas among women affected by marital infidelity in Ahvaz.
Design
A randomized, parallel-group, quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design, involving 30 participants (15 per group). Participants will be randomly allocated to experimental and control groups using a computer-generated randomization sequence.
Settings and conduct
The study will be conducted in counseling and psychological centers in Ahvaz, Iran. Thirty eligible participants will be randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group will receive eight weekly 90-minute CFT sessions, while the control group will receive no intervention. Assessments will be conducted at pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up. No blinding will be used.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Iclusion criteria: Participants aged 20–50 years, residing in Ahvaz, with 6 months to 2 years elapsed since disclosure or experience of spousal infidelity, scoring above the mean on self-blame and defectiveness/shame schema measures, holding at least a high school diploma, and having received no similar psychotherapy during the previous 6 months.
Intervention groups
Intervention group: Participants will receive eight weekly 90-minute sessions of compassion-focused therapy targeting self-blame, shame, and defectiveness schemas. Control group: Participants will receive no intervention during the study and will complete the same assessments. After follow-up, they will receive compassion-focused therapy training.
Main outcome variables
Self-blame, defectiveness and shame schema

General information

Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number: IRCT20251129068145N6
Registration date: 2026-10-02, 1405/07/10
Registration timing: prospective

Last update: 2026-10-02, 1405/07/10
Update count: 0
Registration date
2026-10-02, 1405/07/10
Registrant information
Name
Mohammadreza Gorji Azghandi
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 51 3872 0567
Email address
gorji@article-lab.com
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-10-22, 1405/07/30
Expected recruitment end date
2026-12-06, 1405/09/15
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) in Reducing Self-Blame and Repairing the Schema of Imperfection and Shame in Women Affected by Marital Infidelity in Ahvaz City
Public title
The Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) in Reducing Self-Blame and Repairing the Schema of Imperfection and Shame in Women Affected by Marital Infidelity in Ahvaz City
Purpose
Supportive
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
A minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 2 years having elapsed since the disclosure or experience of spousal infidelity (to ensure the acute crisis phase has passed). Scoring above the mean on the self-blame and defectiveness/shame schema questionnaires. Possessing at least a high school diploma to ensure comprehension of therapeutic concepts and questionnaire items. No receipt of similar psychotherapy services within the past 6 months. Residency in the city of Ahvaz. Age range of 20 to 50 years.
Exclusion criteria:
Age
From 20 years old to 50 years old
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size: 30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Eligible participants (n=30) will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either the experimental group (n=15) or the control group (n=15) using a simple randomization method. A computer-generated random allocation sequence will be used to determine group assignment after eligibility assessment and baseline measurements.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features

Secondary Ids

empty

Ethics committees

1

Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Research Ethics Committees of Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Street address
Islamic Azad University-Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹۳۷۳۳۳
Approval date
2026-07-21, 1405/04/30
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1405.431

Health conditions studied

1

Description of health condition studied
Psychological distress following marital infidelity
ICD-10 code
Z63.0
ICD-10 code description
Problems in relationship with spouse or partner

Primary outcomes

1

Description
Self-blame
Timepoint
The outcome will be assessed at baseline (pre-test), immediately after the intervention (post-test), and 2 months after the intervention (follow-up).
Method of measurement
Self-blame will be assessed using the Janoff-Bulman Self-Blame Scale, a 15-item questionnaire covering behavioral and personality self-blame, rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores indicate greater self-blame.

2

Description
Defectiveness/Shame Schema
Timepoint
The outcome will be assessed at baseline (pre-test), immediately after the intervention (post-test), and 2 months after the intervention (follow-up).
Method of measurement
The Defectiveness/Shame subscale of the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-SF) will be used. The subscale consists of 5 items rated on a 6-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater severity of the schema.

Secondary outcomes

empty

Intervention groups

1

Description
Intervention group: Participants will receive eight weekly 90-minute sessions of compassion-focused therapy based on Paul Gilbert’s model, including psychoeducation, mindfulness and soothing-rhythm breathing, compassionate imagery, cognitive restructuring, and exercises targeting self-blame, shame, and defectiveness schemas.
Category
Treatment - Other

2

Description
Control group: Participants will receive no psychological intervention during the study period and will undergo the same pre-test, post-test, and two-month follow-up assessments. After completion of the follow-up assessment, the control group will receive an intensive compassion-focused therapy training course for ethical considerations.
Category
Treatment - Other

Recruitment centers

1

Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Aramis Kianpars Clinic
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Ali Khalafi
Street address
Aramis Kianpars Clinic, Farvardin Street, between Esfand and Eghbal Streets, Golestan Boulevard, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6138674691
Phone
+98 937 260 9797
Fax
Email
info@aramisclinic

Sponsors / Funding sources

1

Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Aslan Agdernejad
Street address
Industry and Community Relations Office, 2nd Floor, Office Building, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz Branch, Farhangshahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz, Iran.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹-۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98 61 3334 8361
Email
info@iauahvaz.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic

Person responsible for general inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Parvez Askari
Position
Associate Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University-Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98
Email
askary47@yahoo.com

Person responsible for scientific inquiries

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Parvez Askari
Position
Associate Professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Islamic Azad University-Ahvaz Branch, Farhang Shahr, Golestan Highway, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
۶۱۳۴۹۳۷۳۳۳
Phone
+98
Email
askary47@yahoo.com

Person responsible for updating data

Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University - Ahvaz Branch
Full name of responsible person
Shahnaz Karam Pour Farhad Abad
Position
Student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
2nd Floor, No. 3, Sa'i 7, Amniyat 3 St., Farhang-e Shahr, Ahvaz.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134987769
Phone
+98 938 975 1050
Email
karampoorshahnaz@gmail.com

Sharing plan

Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
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