The Efficacy of Positive Group Psychotherapy on Self-Differentiation of Patients with Prostate Cancer

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the fourth most common cancer globally. The current study aimed to see how positive group psychotherapy affected self-differentiation in men with prostate cancer. Methods: The current study was an experimental type and was done by conducting a pre- and post-test. The statistical population of this study was all men with prostate cancer of Baghdad Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq (197 men) in 2020. Using simple random sampling, 50 patients with prostate cancer were selected as sample members. The subjects were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised (DSI-R) was used to collect data. Data were analyzed with multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) using SPSS software. Results: Comparing pre-test and post-test scores revealed a significant difference in the variable of self-differentiation between the experimental and control groups, so that all of its components, including mixing with other people (F = 38.117, P < 0.001), emotional reactivity (F = 56.483, P < 0.001), personal position (F = 39.540, P < 0.001), and emotional detachment (F = 43.329, P < 0.001) exhibited a significant difference. In other words, positive group psychology increased self-differentiation of patients with prostate cancer. Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of prostate cancer in the world and Iraq, this treatment can be administered in the oncology and radiotherapy departments with a psychologist's assistance to expedite patients' recovery.