Evaluating the Efficacy of Guided Imagery Therapy on COVID-۱۹ Anxiety, Health Anxiety, and Hope for Life in Recovered COVID-۱۹ Individuals

Aims: Given the irreversible psychological effects associated with the COVID-۱۹ disease, there is a critical need to design appropriate interventions aimed at understanding their effectiveness on the mental health of recovered COVID-۱۹ patients. Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design with a three-month follow-up. The study population comprised COVID-۱۹ recoverees in Tehran in ۲۰۲۱ who had undergone treatment in various educational-medical hospitals. Thirty participants were purposefully selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to the guided imagery therapy group (۱۵ participants) and the control group (۱۵ participants). The guided imagery therapy consisted of ۱۰ sessions, each lasting ۹۰ minutes, administered to the experimental group, while the control group received no intervention. The research utilized Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-۱۸), and Millers Hope Scale (MHS) as research instruments. Data analysis was conducted using covariance analysis in SPSS version ۲۶. Findings: The results indicated that guided imagery therapy was effective in significantly reducing COVID-۱۹ anxiety, health anxiety, and increasing hope for life in individuals who had recovered from COVID-۱۹ (p < ۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Based on the research findings, the therapeutic protocol applied in this study demonstrates potential benefits in mitigating COVID-۱۹ anxiety, health anxiety, and enhancing hope for life, particularly during widespread pandemic outbreaks. These insights underscore the importance of tailored interventions for the mental health of recovered COVID-۱۹ patients.

Keywords:

Post COVID , Mental Health , Anxiety , Hope