Font Size: 

Aims of Study: There are many studies showing a positive relationship between depression level and cognitive distortions in the literature. This study was conducted to determine the effects of the psychoeducation on cognitive distortions of patients diagnosed with depression. Participants: The study sample composed of a total of 60 patients (30 patients in the experimental group and 30 patients in the control group) who met the eligibility criteria. Methods: This study was designed as a two-group pre-posttest study. The data has been collected by using The Personal Information Form, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS) and Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale (ICDS). Psychoeducation was provided in the form of individual training once a week in total of 8 sessions. Outcomes: For the pre-test, assumption and schemas that make people predispose to depression, dysfunctional attitudes and cognitive distortions in interpersonal relationships were seen frequently to be above average in all patients. It was determined that patients in the experimental group  used significantly less dysfunctional attitudes and to had lower negative automatic thoughts and interpersonal cognitive distortions compared with patients in the control group in post-test (p<0.05). Conclusion: Consequently, psychoeducation has become considerably effective in decreasing the use of negative automatic thoughts, interpersonal cognitive distortions and dysfunctional attitudes in patients with depression. Implications: Psychoeducation is  an effective way to reduce cognitive distortions in patients with depression. It is thought that the process will be more positive by the routine addition of psychoeducation program to the treatment of depressed patients.