Comparison of the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Anxiety Sensitivity in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Isfahan
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Objective: To compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in reducing anxiety sensitivity among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up. Forty-five IBS patients in Isfahan, Iran (2025) who met Rome IV diagnostic criteria were recruited via convenience purposive sampling from treatment centers and randomly assigned to schema therapy (n=15), MBCT (n=15), or a no-treatment control group (n=15). Schema therapy was delivered in a group format according to Young’s protocol, and MBCT was delivered in 10 90-minute sessions according to an established mindfulness-based protocol. Anxiety sensitivity was measured using the Anxiety Sensitivity Questionnaire (Taylor & Cox, 1998). Data were analyzed using mixed (between–within) ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction and Bonferroni post hoc tests (SPSS v26).
Findings: Both interventions reduced anxiety sensitivity relative to the control group at posttest and follow-up. The group × time interaction was significant (F≈21.3, p=0.001, effect size≈0.50), indicating differential change across groups. Pairwise comparisons showed that MBCT produced larger reductions than schema therapy at posttest and follow-up (p<0.05). Mean anxiety sensitivity decreased from 48.7±5.76 to 33.8±4.64 (follow-up: 34.8±5.06) in the MBCT group, and from 50.3±6.92 to 39.8±6.53 (follow-up: 41.1±7.42) in the schema therapy group, while remaining stable in controls.
Conclusion: Both schema therapy and mindfulness-based interventions may help reduce anxiety sensitivity in IBS, with MBCT showing greater short-term and 3-month benefits. Larger randomized trials with longer follow-up and clearer labeling of the intervention (MBCT vs. MBSR-informed) are recommended.
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