Comparison of the Effectiveness of Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy and Schema Therapy on Psychological Distress in Women Experiencing Emotional Divorce

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of short-term psychodynamic therapy and schema therapy in reducing psychological distress among women experiencing emotional divorce. This applied study used a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of women experiencing emotional divorce who attended counseling and psychology clinics in District 1 of Tehran during the first half of 2025. Forty-five eligible participants were selected through purposive sampling and, after matching, randomly assigned to three groups of 15: short-term psychodynamic therapy, schema therapy, and control. Data were collected using the Emotional Divorce Questionnaire and the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. The short-term psychodynamic group received 15 sessions of 90 minutes, while the schema therapy group received eight two-hour sessions; the control group remained on a waiting list. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests in SPSS version 28. The results showed significant effects of group (F = 21.46, p < .001, ηp² = .511), time (F = 47.26, p < .001, ηp² = .529), and the time × group interaction (F = 11.78, p < .001, ηp² = .359) on psychological distress. At posttest, both short-term psychodynamic therapy (MD = -6.15, p < .001) and schema therapy (MD = -3.57, p < .001) significantly reduced psychological distress compared with the control group. Short-term psychodynamic therapy was also significantly more effective than schema therapy at posttest (MD = -2.58, p = .027). At follow-up, both interventions remained significantly superior to the control condition (p < .001), whereas the difference between the two active treatments was not significant (MD = -1.72, p = .186). Both short-term psychodynamic therapy and schema therapy were effective and sustained interventions for reducing psychological distress among women experiencing emotional divorce; however, short-term psychodynamic therapy produced a greater immediate effect.