Effectiveness of a bioenergy economy program versus mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on the severity and psychological symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder causing a great burden on patients' lives due to its physical and psychological symptoms. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has previously alleviated IBS symptoms. Bioenergy economy (BEE) is a novel mind-body intervention that has shown moderating effects on many psychological and physical symptoms, particularly in chronic diseases. This research aimed to compare the effectiveness of MBCT and BEE on IBS symptom severity, somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

Materials and methods: This study was conducted using a quasi-experimental method with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group in Isfahan, Iran. Forty-five patients with IBS were divided into two experimental and one control group (15 subjects in each group). The patients were assessed using the ROME III Diagnostic Criteria for IBS, IBS Severity Index (IBS-SI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15) before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance, and SPSS-22 software was used.

Results: The findings showed that MBCT and BEE both had significant effects on the IBS symptom severity, somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between the mean scores of the two experimental groups in any of the post-test or the follow-up stages (P > 0.05). This concludes that there was no difference between the effectiveness of MBCT and BEE programs (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: Although both interventions had significant results in improving patients' symptoms, the BEE program had a stronger and wider range of effectiveness.