Oncology and Radiotherapy © N.Hamid et al. - The effectiveness of positive mental imagery 1 (51) 2020: 001-009 • RESEARCH ARTICLE The effectiveness of positive mental imagery of recovery and cognitive behavioral therapy based on religious beliefs on anxiety and life quality in women with breast cancer Najmeh Hamid 1 Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran SUMMARY Introduction: Breast cancer is a common condition among women that can cause psychological problems and may negatively affect their life quality in the future. Religious beliefs and attitudes have been associated with improved life quality and reduced anxiety in women. The objective of present study was to examine the effectiveness of positive mental imagery of recovery and cognitive behavioral therapy based on religious beliefs on life quality and anxiety among women suffering from breast cancer. Methods: This study is an experimental research with pre-test, post-test, follow-up, and control group. The present research work was performed on 30 women with breast cancer who were included based on some criteria including age, disease duration, educational status, having a standard deviation above the mean value in anxiety test among others. Afterward, they were classified into the control group (n=15) and the experimental group (n=15) randomly. Patients in the experimental group received 12 sessions (of 45 minutes) of positive mental imagery of recovery and cognitive behavior therapy based on religious beliefs, while the patients in the control group received no intervention. Data analysis was performed using the statistical technique of multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results: According to the results of the present study, there was a significant difference between the control and experimental groups (p ≤0.0001). In the experimental group, anxiety was significantly decreased and life quality was significantly improved compared with the pre-test and control group. These results persisted at the end of the follow-up period. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that positive mental imagery of recovery and cognitive behavior therapy based on religious beliefs are important factors in improving life quality and reducing anxiety in patients suffering from breast cancer. Key words: positive mental imagery of recovery, cognitive behavior therapy based on religious beliefs, anxiety, life quality, breast cancer Address for correspondence: Najmeh Hamid, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran, email: n.hamid@scu.ac.ir Word count: 4855 Tables: 05 Figures: 0 References: 40 Received:- 31 January, 2020 Accepted:- 28 February, 2020 Published:- 16 March, 2020 INTRODUCTION Breast cancer is a solid, painless mass that mostly develops in superior and exterior parts of the breast, however, it may also involve other parts such as the tip of the breast. Breast cancer may advance to lymphatic glands located at the cavity area under the arms and spread to other parts of the body [1]. This type of cancer can cause pains and general disorders, skin-burns due to radiotherapy, mastectomy-related deformity, hair collapse, chemotherapy- related conditions in patients among others. Diagnosis of breast cancer is scarier for patients than of the disease itself, since the most annoying matter for them is to accept losing their breasts. The problem will not be terminated with removing one or both breasts and leaves serious mental- psychological effects [2]. Therefore, it is very important to study some strategies for reducing these negative effects in these patients and has attracted the attention of many scholars. Patients with breast cancer often experience severe psychological distress when they are aware of cancer and throughout the course of treatment. The findings have shown that the psychological distress of these patients is correlated with the severity of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation [3]. In many studies such as a 25-year-old study - a study of 164 women, the results of the effectiveness of counseling and psychological treatment improving life quality and increasing the effectiveness of medical treatments [4]. Past research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapies reduce psychological distress in patients with cancer, especially in reducing depression and anxiety. These patients have been effective [5]. Faith, religious beliefs, religious instruction, rituals, and rituals are factors that can be effectively used in the treatment and prevention of mental disorders provided that their methods of