Comparing the Effect of Compassionate Hypnotherapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Sleep Quality in Breast Cancer Patients

Aims: In patients with cancer, sleep quality is disturbed, and they need treatment. Considering the side effects of medication, complementary therapy can be helpful. Therefore, this research aimed to compare the effect of two methods of compassionate hypnotherapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on the sleep quality in breast cancer patients. Materials Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The sample size was 45 people selected by convenience sampling method and using block randomization were allocated into 3 groups: compassionate hypnotherapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and a control group (each group 15 patients). In group 1, compassionate hypnotherapy intervention and group 2, acceptance and commitment therapy intervention were performed during eight sessions. Before and after the intervention, the study groups completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire. The data was analyzed by SPSS 26 using Chi-square, ANCOVA, and MANCOVA. Findings: The average sleep quality in companionate hypnotherapy and acceptance and commitment groups was significantly higher than in the control group (p=0.001). The compassionate hypnotherapy group indicated a significant improvement in the sleep quality score compared to the acceptance and commitment therapy group (p=0.001). Conclusion: Compassionate hypnotherapy has a better effect than acceptance and commitment therapy on improving sleep quality.