Comparison of long-term effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy versus mindfulness-based therapy on reduction of symptoms among patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term effects of cognitive-behavioral treatment and mindfulness-based treatment on decreasing symptoms of patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). BACKGROUND: One of the most modern therapies put forward in therapy of IBS is mindfulness-based metacognitive therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, 36 people with mean age of 32 years old, including 24 patients with IBS and 12 healthy normal subjects as control group, were studied. Patients with IBS were randomly divided into two experimental groups of cognitive-behavioral treatment (n=12) and mindfulness-based treatment (n=12). Data were analysed by one-way covariance analysis. RESULTS: There was significant decrease of the symptoms of IBS among two treatment groups versus control group in long-term (p<0.05). Mindfulness-based therapy was the most effective technique in decreasing symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study showed mindfulness-based therapy, as a modern psychotherapy technique, is an effective method to decrease symptoms of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, compared with old methods. Therefore, this technique is advised among these patients, especially those who have refractory symptoms.