Despite the traumatic effects of acid violence on its victims, treatment options are very limited. The present study was aimed at examining the efficacy of a forgiveness intervention with female survivors of acid attack violence in Pakistan. Female acid attack victims in Pakistan were randomized to either a forgiveness group (n = 8) or a treatment-as-usual (TAU; n = 8) control group. The forgiveness group received twice-a-week forgiveness sessions for 4 months, whereas the TAU group either received typical psychological treatment sessions for acid attack victims or no treatment. All participants were assessed on their levels of forgiveness, anger, anxiety, depression, and hope four times prior to the 4-month intervention period, twice after the intervention period, and once at the 1-year follow-up. Posttreatment, the forgiveness intervention group showed greater improvement in hope, anger, anxiety, and depression when compared with the TAU group. Upon further examinations, both groups improved on forgiveness from pretreatment to posttreatment, but the forgiveness group had a higher baseline. From pretreatment to the 12-month follow-up, the forgiveness group, when compared with the TAU group, showed greater improvement in all areas except for depression. This is the first study that examined the effects of a forgiveness intervention for acid attack victims in Pakistan. Results showing the improvement posttreatment as well as over a 1-year period posttreatment are encouraging.

中文翻译：

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一项针对巴基斯坦女性酸性袭击幸存者的宽恕干预计划的随机对照试验

尽管酸性暴力对其受害者造成了创伤性影响，但治疗选择非常有限。本研究旨在检查宽恕干预对巴基斯坦酸攻击暴力的女性幸存者的有效性。巴基斯坦的女性酸攻击受害者被随机分配到宽恕组 ( n  = 8) 或照常治疗 (TAU; n = 8) 对照组。宽恕组每周接受两次宽恕，持续 4 个月，而 TAU 组要么接受典型的针对酸攻击受害者的心理治疗，要么不接受治疗。在 4 个月的干预期前四次、干预期后两次和 1 年随访期，对所有参与者的宽恕、愤怒、焦虑、抑郁和希望水平进行了评估。治疗后，与 TAU 组相比，宽恕干预组在希望、愤怒、焦虑和抑郁方面表现出更大的改善。在进一步的检查中，从治疗前到治疗后，两组的宽恕度都有所提高，但宽恕组的基线更高。从治疗前到 12 个月的随访，宽恕组与 TAU 组相比，除抑郁症外，所有领域都有更大的改善。这是第一项研究宽恕干预对巴基斯坦酸性袭击受害者的影响的研究。结果显示治疗后的改善以及超过 1 年的治疗后效果令人鼓舞。