Comparison of the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy on Anxiety Sensitivity in Patients with Heart Disease

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases, as one of the leading causes of global mortality, are influenced by psychological factors. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy and emotion-focused therapy on anxiety sensitivity in patients with heart disease. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on a statistical population of patients with coronary artery disease in 2025 in Rasht, Iran. The statistical sample consisted of 60 individuals who were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (mindfulness-based and emotion-focused) and one control group. The research instruments included the Anxiety Sensitivity Index developed by Taylor and Cox (1998) and training packages for mindfulness and emotion-focused therapies. Data analysis was performed using univariate/multivariate repeated measures ANOVA and post hoc tests in SPSS. The results indicated that emotion-focused therapy was more effective in reducing anxiety sensitivity. These findings highlight the superiority of emotion-focused therapy in managing emotional and physiological aspects, and the role of mindfulness in stress regulation.