Efficacy of Mindfulness on Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background and Anxiety and depressive symptoms are common in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of mindfulness on improving anxiety and depression in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. In an experimental study (pretest-posttest randomized experiment) we included 30 patients with irritable bowel syndrome attending Hospitals of Tabriz, 2014. Data was collected using the Rome-III diagnostic criteria and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The participants were randomly selected and divided into control and experimental group (n=15 per group). In experimental group, the mindfulness therapy was performed in 8 sessions, once a week for 90 minutes. Beck Anxiety Inventory was readministered as post-test to both groups. Data was then collected in SPSS V.20 using Multivariate analysis of covariance. In this study mindfulness was found to be significantly effective in reducing anxiety and depression in experimental group. Mindfulness therapy could be used as an effective treatment in improving anxiety and depression in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.