Comparison of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment\nstrategies in promotion of infertility self-efficacy scale in infertile\nwomen: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: The infertility is associated with psychological\nconsequence including depression, and lack of self-efficacy. Objective:\nThe aim of this study was to compare the pharmacological and no\npharmacological strategies in promotion of self-efficacy of infertile\nwomen. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial\nwas conducted on 89 infertile women who were recruited from Fatemeh\nZahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center and were\nrandomized into three groups; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),\nantidepressant therapy with flouxetine 20 mg daily for 3 month, and a\ncontrol group. All participants completed Infertility Self-efficacy\nInventory (ISE) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at the\nbeginning and end of the study. Results: The means ISE scores among the\nCBT, fluoxetine, and control groups at the beginning and end of the\nstudy were 6.1±1.6 vs. 7.2±0.9, 6.4±1.4 vs. 6.9±1.3\nand 6.1±1.1 vs. 5.9±1.4 respectively. Both CBT and fluoxetine\nincreased the mean of ISE scores more than control group after\nintervention (p<0.0001, p=0.033; respectively), but increase in the\nCBT group was significantly greater than flouxetine group. Finally,\nthere was evidence of high infertility self-efficacy for women exposed\nto the intervention compared with those in the control group. Also,\nthere was an improvement in depression. Both fluoxetine and CBT\ndecreased significantly the mean of BDI scores more than the control\ngroup; decrease in the CBT group was significantly more than that in\nthe fluoxetine group. Conclusion: CBT can serve as an effective\npsychosocial intervention for promoting self-efficacy of infertile\nwomen.