Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Stress Management, Optimism Training and Medical Therapy on Somatic Symptoms, Perceived Stress, Illness Perception and Quality of Life in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Recently it is accentuated on the role of psychological symptoms in the course of chronic diseases and applying psychological interventions as complementary interventions. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management, optimism training and conevntional medical therapy on somatic symptoms, perceived stress, illness perception and quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis. In this study, thirty female patients were selected accidentally, and randomly assigned into three groups including cognitive-behavioral stress management(n=10), optimism training(n=10) and conventional medical therapy(n=10). All patients completed Perceived Stress Scale, Illness Perception questionnaire, WHO Quality of Life questionnaire, and Lichtiger Colitis Activity Index. Then, experimental groups participated in 9 sessions of cognitive-behavioral stress management and optimism training group interventions. Thereafter, three groups answered to scales again. This course was repeated in a 6-mounth follow-up. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data. The findings indicated that the effects of two interventions were significant on patient´s illness perception, perceived stress and quality of life however, these interventions did not change somatic symptoms. Totally, it can be said that psychological interventions such as stress management and optimism training can be effective on improving the psychological symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis and their cure.