COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY ON FATIGUE AND CHRONIC PAIN IN WOMEN WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Many people with MS report dissatisfaction with pain management programs and there is an urgent need to identify effective interventions that reduce the experience of pain. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on fatigue and chronic pain in women with multiple sclerosis.

Methods and Materials:

The research method was quasi-experimental studies with two experimental groups and one control group. The statistical population included all female patients with inflammatory bowel disease who are members of the inflammatory bowel association in Tehran. Among them, 45 people were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). The first and second groups received 10 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy and 8 sessions of cognitive therapy based on mindfulness, respectively. Research data were collected using a multidimensional fatigue questionnaire and numerical pain rating scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS-25 statistical software using descriptive tests and analysis of covariance.

The results of analysis of covariance showed that two interventions of cognitive-behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy based on mindfulness reduced chronic fatigue in women with inflammatory bowel disease (p <0.05); Regarding the chronic pain variable, this effect was not significant (p >0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference between the effectiveness of these two interventions (p >0.05).

The results of the present study can help to expand the available treatment options for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in reducing fatigue and chronic pain