Objectives: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders. A high percentage (two-thirds) of patients with depression have prominent anxiety symptoms. Hence, the existence of a natural, simple, accessible, and affordable treatment method is required by people suffering from depression. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Ayurveda knowledge as a complementary medicine with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and their combination in reducing anxiety in depressed women. Methodology: This semi-experimental pre-test-post-test research with a control group was conducted on a statistical population of 40 women aged 45-25 years who were diagnosed with moderate depression by a psychiatrist and underwent the Beck depression test. They voluntarily participated in this research by filling and signing an informed consent form. Subjects were placed in four groups of 10 people with a simple random allocation method and underwent CBT, Ayurveda, and combination therapy based on the protocols for 10 weeks. Data collection tools were Beck's depression inventory (BDI-II)(1996) and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (1983). The data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Findings: The effect size of time was significant for both state and trait anxiety variables (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference between the test groups and the control group in the scores of state and trait anxiety variables, respectively (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001). A significant difference was observed between pre-test, post-test, and follow-up scores in the variables of anxiety and state traits in Ayurveda and CBT groups (p < 0.001). In the combined treatment group, this difference was significant in state anxiety (p = 0.003) and trait anxiety (p = 0.015). There was no significant difference between the post-test and follow-up scores in the CBT and integrated therapy groups. However, the Ayurveda group at the time of follow-up was significantly different from the post-test (P = 0.019). better scores were obtained in integrative therapy than in CBT, but no significant difference was observed between the effectiveness of Ayurveda and integrative therapy. Conclusion: The combination of these two treatment methods could be beneficial in enhancing the mood and reducing the anxiety of depressed women as depression leads to irreparable effects throughout life.

Ayurveda, CBT, mood, anxiety, depression