The effect of training programs based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) techniques applied to infertile women on affecting infertility, post traumatic stress disorder and psychological growth

Aim: The study was conducted to determine the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing training programs applied to infertile women on infertility, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological growth. Material and Method: The study was carried out in a randomized controlled manner with 90 infertile women who applied to the outpatient clinic at Gözde Akademi Hospital IVF Unit in Malatya city center between May 2021 and August 2022 (30 CBT, 30 EMDR, 30 control). Personal information form, SDUS, VoC, IDS, IES-R, and PTGI were used to obtain data in the study. The intervention applied by the researcher to the women in the experimental group (CBT and EMDR) was completed in 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, SUDS, VoC, IDS, IES-R and PTGI were administered to the women in the experimental and control groups as posttests. Results: It was determined that after CBT and EMDR intervention, the SUDS scale, IDS and IES-R mean scores of infertile women were statistically significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.001). It was determined that the post-intervention VoC scale and PTGI mean scores of women in the CBT and EMDR groups increased statistically significantly compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: It was determined that CBT and EMDR applied to women diagnosed with infertility reduced anxiety, being affected by infertility, and the level of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as increasing the validity of cognition and the level of psychological growth.