Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences Hospital Practices and Research 2476-390X 10 4 2025 12 20 The Effect of Written Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy on Decreasing Alexithymia and Experiential Avoidance in Women with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 784 790 237063 10.30491/hpr.2025.549133.1514 EN Neda Harandeh Department of Psychology, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish Island, Iran 0009-0001-7656-9151 Mohsen Jadidi Department of Psychology, ShQ.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-7472-3127 Seyedeh Fatemeh Hassani Department of Psychology, TeMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 0009-0002-4688-094X Journal Article 2025 09 24 <strong>Background:</strong> Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects women at approximately twice the rate of men, often leading to complex symptoms like alexithymia and experiential avoidance.<br><strong>Objectives:</strong> This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) on decreasing alexithymia and experiential avoidance in women with PTSD.<br><strong>Methods:</strong> This research was a quasi-experimental study conducted in 2024. The statistical population included all women aged 18 to 40 with PTSD referred to counseling centers and psychological clinics in Tehran. A convenience sample of 90 eligible participants was selected and randomly assigned to a WET group (n = 30), a CPT group (n = 30), and a control group (n = 30). The WET group received five sessions, while the CPT group received 12 sessions. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA.<br><strong>Results:</strong> Both WET and CPT interventions were effective, leading to significant reductions in alexithymia (F = 68.42, P<0.001, η²p = 0.44) and experiential avoidance (F = 59.87, P<0.001, η²p = 0.41) at post-test and three-month follow-up. The findings showed that WET was more effective than CPT in decreasing alexithymia (mean reduction: 16.6 vs. 14.2 points), whereas CPT had a greater effect on reducing experiential avoidance (mean reduction: 12.6 vs. 16.6 points) (P<0.05).<br><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Both therapies significantly reduce alexithymia and experiential avoidance, with WET showing greater efficacy for alexithymia and CPT for experiential avoidance, sustained at three-month follow-up. These findings inform clinicians in selecting targeted interventions based on patients’ predominant symptoms, enhancing personalized treatment for women with PTSD. https://www.jhpr.ir/article_237063_533f8c925c2fb750b27757e285bac481.pdf