Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy on cognitive fatigue in young people with depressive symptoms

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Schema Therapy on cognitive fatigue in young adults with depressive symptoms. This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of young adults with depressive symptoms who referred to counseling clinics in District 1 of Tehran during 2024–2025. Forty-five eligible participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (n = 15), Schema Therapy (n = 15), and Control (n = 15). The experimental groups received eight group therapy sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected at pretest, posttest, and follow-up and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of time and a significant time × group interaction on cognitive fatigue (p < 0.001), while the main effect of group was not significant (p > 0.05). Post hoc comparisons indicated that both CBT and Schema Therapy significantly reduced cognitive fatigue compared to the control group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the two therapeutic approaches (p > 0.05). Moreover, no significant difference was observed between posttest and follow-up scores within experimental groups, indicating maintenance of treatment effects. Both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Schema Therapy were effective in reducing cognitive fatigue among young adults with depressive symptoms, and their effects remained stable at follow-up, suggesting that either intervention may be considered an effective therapeutic option