Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Compared with Metacognition Therapy in Reducing Symptoms and Increasing Life Satisfaction in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) with metacognitive therapy (MCT) on reducing symptoms and increasing life satisfaction of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Research method was quasi-experimental with pretest, post-test, 3-month follow-up and control group. Statistical population was all women (20-40) suffering from IBS who referred to Counseling Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences University and Rasoul Akram Hospital located in Tehran in autumn and winter of 2016 and spring of 2017. Through available sampling and Rome III criteria 30 patients were selected (15 in each group) and allocated randomly to experimental group 1 (MCT) and experimental group 2 (ACT). Also 15 patients with IBS were considered as the control group and did not receive any psychotherapy. The life Satisfaction Inventory (Diener & et.al, 1985) was used for pretest, post-test, and follow-up period. The therapeutic packages of ACT and MCT were used for the experimental groups for eight 90 minute weekly sessions, and the control group was placed in a waiting list. Both therapeutic methods affected the same on reducing symptoms and increasing the life satisfaction of the patients. Three- month follow-up confirmed these results. This study makes available the implications for the effective psychotherapy interventions on reducing symptoms and increasing life satisfaction of patients suffering from IBS.