Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Alexithymia in Patients with Gastrointestinal Diseases: An Experimental Study
Comparison ACT and MBCT on alexithymia
Downloads
Background: Today, many people suffer from digestive system diseases. It seems that sufficient attention has not been paid to the role of psychological treatment methods in reducing the pain of these patients. The present study was conducted with the aim to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on alexithymia in patients with gastrointestinal disease.
Methods: This semi-experimental research was performed with a pretest-posttest design and an unequal control group. The sample was selected using convenience sampling and consisted of 45 people (ACT, MBCT, and control groups). The intervention groups participated in ACT (Hayes et al, 2012) and MBCT (Crane, 2017) sessions. The control group did not receive any intervention. All participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) (Bagby, James, Parker, Graeme, & Taylor, 1994) in the pretest and posttest. The statistical method used in this research was univariate analysis of covariance. The data were analyzed in SPSS software.
Results: ACT and MBCT treatment methods significantly reduce alexithymia (P < 0.0001). However, there was no difference between the effects of the two treatment methods in alexithymia recovery.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, both treatments can reduce the symptoms of emotional dyslexia in patients with gastrointestinal tract diseases. The results of this study can be useful to specialists in this field, and show the necessity of using psychological services to reduce psychosocial problems.
Downloads
Ahmadi Doulabi, M., Sajedi, F., Vameghi, R., Mazaheri, M. A., Akbarzadeh, B. A., & Afraz, F. (2019). Marital satisfaction and depression in mothers of 3-4 year old children with developmental delay in comparison with mothers of normal children. Iran J Child.Neurol., 13(4), 91-108. doi:ijcn-13-091 [pii]. Retrieved from PM:31645870
Bagby, R. M., Parker, J. D. A., Onno, K. A., Mortezaei, A., & Taylor, G. J. (2021). Development and psychometric evaluation of an informant form of the 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale. J Psychosom.Res, 141, 110329. doi:S0022-3999(20)30891-6 [pii];10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110329 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33316631
Black, C. J., Yiannakou, Y., Guthrie, E. A., West, R., Houghton, L. A., & Ford, A. C. (2021). A Novel Method to Classify and Subgroup Patients With IBS Based on Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Psychological Profiles. Am.J Gastroenterol., 116(2), 372-381. doi:00000434-202102000-00029 [pii];10.14309/ajg.0000000000000975 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33110014
Boraschi, P., Giugliano, L., Mercogliano, G., Donati, F., Romano, S., & Neri, E. (2021). Abdominal and gastrointestinal manifestations in COVID-19 patients: Is imaging useful? World J Gastroenterol., 27(26), 4143-4159. doi:10.3748/wjg.v27.i26.4143 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:34326615
Burgess, E. E., Selchen, S., Diplock, B. D., & Rector, N. A. (2021). A brief mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention as a population-level strategy for anxiety and depression. Int J Cogn Ther, 14(2), 380-398. doi:105 [pii];10.1007/s41811-021-00105-x [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33897938
Burisch, J., Jess, T., Martinato, M., & Lakatos, P. L. (2013). The burden of inflammatory bowel disease in Europe. J Crohns.Colitis., 7(4), 322-337. doi:S1873-9946(13)00030-5 [pii];10.1016/j.crohns.2013.01.010 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:23395397
Carnovale, M., Taylor, G. J., Parker, J. D. A., Sanches, M., & Bagby, R. M. (2021). A bifactor analysis of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale: Further support for a general alexithymia factor. Psychol Assess., 33(7), 619-628. doi:2021-31512-001 [pii];10.1037/pas0001000 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33793263
Costa, J., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2011). Acceptance of pain, self-compassion and psychopathology: using the chronic pain acceptance questionnaire to identify patients' subgroups. Clin Psychol Psychother., 18(4), 292-302. doi:10.1002/cpp.718 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:20806418
Crane, R. (2017). Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy: Distinctive Features. London, UK: Routledge.
Feingold, J., Murray, H. B., & Keefer, L. (2019). Recent advances in cognitive behavioral therapy for digestive disorders and the role of applied positive psychology across the spectrum of GI care. J Clin Gastroenterol., 53(7), 477-485. doi:10.1097/MCG.0000000000001234 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:31169757
George, B., & de Guzman, R. (2015). Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy based intervention program (ACTP) on perceived stress and emotion regulation among alcoholics in Kerala, India. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(1), 10-18.
Hayashi, Y., Wagatsuma, K., Nojima, M., Yamakawa, T., Ichimiya, T., Yokoyama, Y. et al. (2021). The characteristics of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with severe COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Gastroenterol., 56(5), 409-420. doi:10.1007/s00535-021-01778-z [pii];1778 [pii];10.1007/s00535-021-01778-z [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33759041
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., Bunting, K., Twohig, M., & Wilson, K. G. (2004). What Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy? In S.C. Hayes & K. D. Strosahl (Eds.), A Practical Guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (pp. 3-29). Boston, MA: Springer US.
Hayes, S. C., Pistorello, J., & Levin, M. E. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy as a unified model of behavior change. The Counseling Psychologist, 40(7), 976-1002. doi:10.1177/0011000012460836 [doi].
Hazlett-Stevens, H., Singer, J., & Chong, A. (2019). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy with older adults: A qualitative review of randomized controlled outcome research. Clin Gerontol., 42(4), 347-358. doi:10.1080/07317115.2018.1518282 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:30204557
Henrich, J. F., Gjelsvik, B., Surawy, C., Evans, E., & Martin, M. (2020). A randomized clinical trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for women with irritable bowel syndrome-Effects and mechanisms. J Consult.Clin Psychol, 88(4), 295-310. doi:2020-15199-002 [pii];10.1037/ccp0000483 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:32134291
Jin, B., Singh, R., Ha, S. E., Zogg, H., Park, P. J., & Ro, S. (2021). Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with COVID-19. World J Gastroenterol., 27(19), 2341-2352. doi:10.3748/wjg.v27.i19.2341 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:34040326
Kani, H. T., Dural, U., Kani, A. S., Yanartas, O., Kiziltas, S., Enc, F. Y. et al. (2019). Evaluation of depression, anxiety, alexithymia, attachment, social support and somatization in functional dyspepsia. Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(1), 45-51. doi:10.1080/24750573.2018.1480081 [doi].
Kano, M., Endo, Y., & Fukudo, S. (2018). Association between alexithymia and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Front.Psychol, 9, 599. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00599 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:29922191
Keefer, L., Bedell, A., Norton, C., & Hart, A. L. (2022). How should pain, fatigue, and emotional wellness be incorporated into treatment goals for optimal management of inflammatory bowel disease? Gastroenterology, 162(5), 1439-1451. doi:S0016-5085(21)04073-7 [pii];10.1053/j.gastro.2021.08.060 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:34995528
Kinnaird, E., Stewart, C., & Tchanturia, K. (2019). Investigating alexithymia in autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur.Psychiatry, 55, 80-89. doi:S0924-9338(18)30177-9 [pii];10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.09.004 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:30399531
Kirschner, H., Kuyken, W., & Karl, A. (2022). A biobehavioural approach to understand how mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduces dispositional negative self-bias in recurrent depression. Mindfulness, 13(4), 928-941. doi:10.1007/s12671-022-01845-3 [doi].
Labanski, A., Langhorst, J., Engler, H., & Elsenbruch, S. (2020). Stress and the brain-gut axis in functional and chronic-inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases: A transdisciplinary challenge. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 111, 104501. doi:S0306-4530(19)31243-0 [pii];10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104501 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:31715444
Li, H., Wong, C. L., Jin, X., Chen, J., Chong, Y. Y., & Bai, Y. (2021). Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on health-related outcomes for patients with advanced cancer: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud., 115, 103876. doi:S0020-7489(21)00008-0 [pii];10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103876 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33517079
Martino, G., Caputo, A., Vicario, C. M., Catalano, A., Schwarz, P., & Quattropani, M. C. (2020). The relationship between alexithymia and type 2 diabetes: A systematic review. Front.Psychol, 11, 2026. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02026 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:32982843
Morie, K. P., Potenza, M. N., Beitel, M., Oberleitner, L. M., Roos, C. R., Yip, S. W. et al. (2021). Alexithymia and pain experience among patients using methadone-maintenance therapy. Drug Alcohol.Depend., 218, 108387. doi:S0376-8716(20)30552-4 [pii];10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108387 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33168339
Morr, M., Lieberz, J., Dobbelstein, M., Philipsen, A., Hurlemann, R., & Scheele, D. (2021). Insula reactivity mediates subjective isolation stress in alexithymia. Sci Rep., 11(1), 15326. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-94799-w [pii];94799 [pii];10.1038/s41598-021-94799-w [doi]. Retrieved from PM:34321519
Namjoo, S., Seirafi, M. R., Assarzadegan, F., & Borjali, A. (2019). Efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on headache considering the moderating role of alexithymia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Inflammatory Diseases, 22(6), 150-163. doi:10.32598/JQUMS.22.6.150 [doi].
Ni, Y., Ma, L., & Li, J. (2020). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in people with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Nurs Scholarsh., 52(4), 379-388. doi:10.1111/jnu.12560 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:32406186
Ross, E. J., Cassisi, J. E., Joseph, D., Dunn, M. E., & Jex, S. (2022). Cross-lagged analyses between gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological distress, and disability in emerging adults. Appl.Psychol Health Well.Being., 14(3), 920-936. doi:10.1111/aphw.12358 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:35318797
Savnikova, A., & Khaustova, O. (2021). Alexithymia and gambling: Psychotherapy to differentiate feelings. Eur Psychiatry, 2021/08/13(S1), S494-S495. doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1322 [doi].
Scheerer, N. E., Boucher, T. Q., & Iarocci, G. (2021). Alexithymia is related to poor social competence in autistic and nonautistic children. Autism Res, 14(6), 1252-1259. doi:10.1002/aur.2485 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33616273
Seritan, A., Prakash, P., Wang, S., Eisendrath, S., & Iosif, A. M. (2022). Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for People with Parkinson's Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 30(4, Supplement), S66. doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2022.01.059 [doi].
Sfeir, E., Geara, C., Hallit, S., & Obeid, S. (2020). Alexithymia, aggressive behavior and depression among Lebanese adolescents: A cross-sectional study. Child.Adolesc.Psychiatry Ment Health, 14, 32. doi:338 [pii];10.1186/s13034-020-00338-2 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:32939221
Shank, L. M., Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Kelly, N. R., Jaramillo, M., Rubin, S. G., Altman, D. R. et al. (2019). The association between alexithymia and eating behavior in children and adolescents. Appetite., 142, 104381. doi:S0195-6663(19)30638-5 [pii];10.1016/j.appet.2019.104381 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:31344421
Shibata, M., Ninomiya, T., Jensen, M. P., Anno, K., Yonemoto, K., Makino, S. et al. (2014). Alexithymia is associated with greater risk of chronic pain and negative affect and with lower life satisfaction in a general population: the Hisayama Study. PLoS.One., 9(3), e90984. doi:PONE-D-13-41543 [pii];10.1371/journal.pone.0090984 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:24621785
Sifneos, P. E. (2000). Alexithymia, clinical issues, politics and crime. Psychother.Psychosom., 69(3), 113-116. doi:pps69113 [pii];10.1159/000012377 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:10877675
Sorboni, S. G., Moghaddam, H. S., Jafarzadeh-Esfehani, R., & Soleimanpour, S. (2022). A Comprehensive Review on the Role of the Gut Microbiome in Human Neurological Disorders. Clin Microbiol.Rev, 35(1), e0033820. doi:00338-20 [pii];cmr.00338-20 [pii];10.1128/CMR.00338-20 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:34985325
Taghizadeh, M. E., & Dalvand, A. (2020). The effectiveness of mindfulness- based cognitive therapy on Alexithymia and cognitive impairment in women with Depressive disorder. Shenakht, 7(5), 117-129. doi:10.52547/shenakht.7.5.117 [doi].
Tang, W., Hu, T., Yang, L., & Xu, J. (2020). The role of alexithymia in the mental health problems of home-quarantined university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Pers Individ.Dif., 165, 110131. doi:S0191-8869(20)30320-2 [pii];110131 [pii];10.1016/j.paid.2020.110131 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:32518435
Thompson, E. M., Destree, L., Albertella, L., & Fontenelle, L. F. (2021). Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy: A transdiagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis for mental health outcomes. Behav Ther, 52(2), 492-507. doi:S0005-7894(20)30100-3 [pii];10.1016/j.beth.2020.07.002 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33622516
Trindade, I. A., Guiomar, R., Carvalho, S. A., Duarte, J., Lapa, T., Menezes, P. et al. (2021). Efficacy of online-based acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pain, 22(11), 1328-1342. doi:S1526-5900(21)00207-8 [pii];10.1016/j.jpain.2021.04.003 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:33892153
Tshabalala, S. J., Tomita, A., & Ramlall, S. (2019). Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in patients presenting with dyspepsia at a regional hospital in KwaZulu-Natal province. S.Afr.J Psychiatr., 25, 1382. doi:SAJPsy-25-1382 [pii];10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v25i0.1382 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:31745439
Williams, K., Elliott, R., Barnhofer, T., Zahn, R., & Anderson, I. M. (2021). positive shifts in emotion evaluation following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in remitted depressed participants. Mindfulness, 12(3), 623-635. doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01521-4 [doi].
Yuksel, A., & Bahadir, Y. E. (2020). The effects of group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in nursing students: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse.Educ Today, 85, 104268. doi: S0260-6917(19)30352-1 [pii];10.1016/j.nedt.2019.104268 [doi]. Retrieved from PM:31765872
Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Body, Mind and Culture
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
