Effectiveness of Group Emotional Schema Therapy on Psychological Distress, Severity and Frequency of Symptoms in Women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of emotional schema therapy on psychological distress, severity and frequency of symptoms in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental two-group three-stage (pre and post-test and two-month follow-up) study was done on 30 women of 18-50 years old with IBS. They were randomly assigned to two groups (experimental and control). Psychological distress and Bowel symptoms severity and frequency in the three stages were measured. The emotional schema therapy group was treated for 8 sessions and the control group remained on the waiting list. Results: The mean score of pre-test, post-test and follow-up of emotional therapy schema group in psychological distress were 21.23 ± 8.18, 16.08 ± 6.05 and 14.69 ± 4.05; in symptom intensity 7.46 ± 1.98, 5.23 ± 1.30 and 6.46 ± 1.33 and in symptom frequency 7.46 ± 1.98, 6.08 ± 1.66 and 7.54 ± 2.18 respectively. In the control group, there was no difference between the scores of different tests; in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up, the scores of psychological distress were 20.23 ± 5.39, 20.08 ± 5.59, and 20.38 ± 4.75, in the symptoms severity 7.69 ± 1.49, 7.62 ± 1.33, and 7.69 ± 1.80, and in the symptoms frequency 6.92 ± 2.75, 6.54 ± 2.40 and 6.62 ± 2.63 respectively. In the control group, there was no difference between the scores in different tests. In the pre-test, post-test and follow-up, in psychological distress, the scores were 20.23 ± 5.39, 20.08 ± 5.59, and 20.38 ± 4.75 in the symptom severity 7.69 ± 1.49, 7.62 ± 1.33, and 7.69. ±1.80 and in the symptoms frequency 6.92 ± 2.75, 6.54 ± 2.40 and 6.92 ± 2.75 respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Emotional schema therapy can be used as a complementary psychological treatment to reduce psychological distress and severity and frequency of symptoms in women with IBS.

The Effectiveness of Emotional Schema Therapy on the Emotional Schemas and Emotional Regulation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Single Subject Design.

BACKGROUND: Positive and negative emotional states are the most important factors in treatment and prevention process of psychosomatic diseases. This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of emotional schemas' therapy on emotional schemas' modification and difficulties of emotion regulation in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was implemented in the framework of single-subject experimental design using step-wise multiple baselines plan. Five patients with IBS were selected as convenience sampling on the base of their willingness to participate and then they received emotional schema therapy (EST). Research tools included ROME III scale, SCID interview, emotional schemas questionnaire, and difficulties of emotional regulation. The analysis of data was done using visual analysis charts, recovery percentage, and reliable change index. RESULTS: The results showed a decrease of scores in some maladaptive schemas and increase of some adaptive schemas than baseline in patients who received EST (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, this treatment decreased scores of some emotion regulation difficulty components (P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: It seems that EST is an appropriate option for treatment of these patients because it is effective in improvement of emotional schemas and difficulties of emotional regulation.

Effectiveness of Parents-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Obesity and Self-Esteem of Overweight Children with Attention Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral problems that cause hyperactivity, attention deficits, academic failure, and emotional and behavioral problems in preschool and elementary school that is often hidden from the parents' eyes. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of parent-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on ADHD symptoms (including attention deficit disorder, restlessness, and impulsivity), overweight and self-esteem of 6-11-year-old obese children with attention deficit hyperactivity in Isfahan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 40 children aged 6-11 years with ADHD and overweight or obesity (above the 85th percentile in weight for age, height, and sex diagram) that their parents referred to Isfahan child and adolescent psychiatric clinic of Ali Asghar Hospital in 2015. For twenty patients, only ADHD treatment was applied, and they received no other intervention, but the others in experimental group participated in CBT sessions. Analysis tools were Coppersmith Self-Esteem Scale, ADHD conners' test, and the body mass index (BMI). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance with repeated measurements. RESULTS: CBT by teaching parents had a significant effect on ADHD symptoms, the self-esteem of overweight and obese children with ADHD in posttest and follow-up. The results also showed that had a significant effect on ADHD symptoms, overweight and self-esteem of the obese children with ADHD (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Parents focused CBT can be considered as a complementary treatment for reducing ADHD symptoms and BMI and increased self-esteem in the obese ADHD children.