The Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Intervention on Emotional Problems and Quality of Life Among Patients With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Abstract

Background:

The Unified treatment approach (UP), an emotion-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy that holds emotional processes as a central target of treatment, is applicable for disorders with strong emotional components. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of emotion regulation intervention derivative from the UP on emotional problems and quality of life among patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Materials and Method:

The study was a randomized clinical trial. Sixteen patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders were entered in treatment process, in term of the qualification criteria. The intervention was conducted in 12 group sessions during 2 hours. The tests of DASS & SF-36 was used to evaluate the efficiency of intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and covariance analysis.

Results:

The results of the covariance analysis showed that there was significant decrease in severity of depression (p<0.01), anxiety (p <0.05) and stress (p <0.01) and also significant increase in quality of life (p <0.01) in intervention group.

Conclusion:

Emotional regulation intervention on the basis of the UP was effective in decrease of severity of emotional symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress) and increase of quality of life patients with psychosomatic disorders. So, the UP, transdiagnostic therapy have proper efficacy in improvement emotional regulation and quality of life patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.