Effectiveness of LEARN Multifaceted Stress Management Program in Reducing Perceived Stress and Improving Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Symptoms

This study is a case report that aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of LEARN multifaceted stress management program in reducing perceived stress and improving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. The research samples, were two women with severe IBS, selected from the ones seeing a gastroenterology subspecialist in Zafar area of Tehran, via convenience sampling method and based on inclusion-exclusion criteria. Perceived stress and severity of IBS symptoms were measured by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and GISR scale respectively, before intervention, during implementation and three months after the end of sessions. Findings’ analysis using graph drawing and remission index calculation with that formula, represented the effectiveness of LEARN multifaceted stress management program in perceived stress reduction and IBS symptoms improvement. Also, this improvement was maintained in the range of ۵۰% to ۵۶%, in three-month follow-up after the intervention. Therefore, based on biopsychosocial model, due to effective components of LEARN multifaceted program, this program can be considered as a suitable treatment option for IBS.

Keywords:

LEARN program , perceived stress , irritable bowel syndrome , برنامه LEARN , استرس ادراک شده , سندروم روده تحریک پذیر