The Efficiency of Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance Based on Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Anxiety Sensitivity and Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Women with Irritable Bowel

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinaldisorder that affects social, occupational, communicational, andpsychological functioning. Therefore, the aim of this research was todetermine the effect of emotional regulation and distress tolerance skillsbased on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) on anxiety sensitivity andemotion regulation difficulties among women with IBS.Methods: In order to conduct this study, a sample of 30 women with IBSwho referred to Tehran healthcare centers was selected using the conveniencesampling. Then, participants were assigned to experimental and controlgroups randomly. In this pretest-posttest semi-experimental study, we usedanxiety sensitivity index questionnaire and the emotion regulationquestionnaire. The experimental group received the educational interventionin 10 sessions during two and a half months. Data were analyzed by SPSSsoftware.Results: The results showed that DBT had a significant effect on anxietysensitivity and emotional regulation difficulties in women with IBS (P-value< 0.001). So, this treatment could reduce the anxiety sensitivity andemotional regulation difficulties in with IBS women.Conclusion: According to the results, DBT educations can reduce the anxietysensitivity and negative emotion regulation and increase the positive emotionregulation.

Keywords:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy , Anxiety Sensitivity , Emotion Regulation , Irritable Bowel Syndrome