Gastrointestinal functions disorders are a group of psychosomatic disorders characterized by an unknown etiology, unclear diagnostic criteria, prolonged periods of illness and poor responsiveness to drugs.
Among the more than 25 unrest of the intestinal functionality known, the irritable colon syndrome (Irritable Bowel Syndrome-IBS) is the most widespread disorder, the most expensive in terms of treatments and the most debilitating. This disorder is characterized by changes in intestinal function, pain and abdominal swelling and associated unease without any detectable structural abnormality.
The prevalence is high, in Italy we speak of 18% of the population, while in the United States we reach 22%, and the most affected genre is the female one.
Those who suffer from this disorder usually tends to contact specialists in the first instance, underestimating the prevailing psychological cause of this condition. It is now established that there is a significant relationship between the symptoms of the IBS, the levels of anxiety and the early traumatic experiences.
These symptoms, in fact, are the clinical manifestation of an ingregation of the bidirectional intestine-cervello system, which links the gastrointestinal functions to the cognitive and emotional centers of our brain. The amygdala, the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus median the functions of the intestine, as emotional states and behaviors regulate. In addition, more than half of the patients with IBS also report other disorders such as depression, panic, agoraphobia and specific phobias.
Finally, this physically and emotionally debilitating condition leads to one drastic reduction in the quality of life With important complications in professional, relational and personal life, influencing performance and limiting the perception of pleasantness in activities.
It is clear how helpful not only a doctor, but also psychotherapeutic in facing this condition, can help. The CBT model (Cognitive-Behavoral Therapy- Cognitive-behavioral therapy) faces the IBS on different plans, claiming that symptoms are children of the interaction of psychological, physiological and social factors.
Cognitive behavioral treatment provides for various components, such as psychoeducation on IBS, nutrition and sleep-wake cycle, learning of relaxation techniques, anxiety management strategies and education for goodness.
We intervene on negative automatic thoughts, which accompany the IBS symptoms and which, increasing the anxious component (“something dangerous is about to happen”), perpetuate and aggravate the perception of body pain and emotional discomfort. Learning to recognize, moreover, the mechanisms of selective attention and acting on them the maladative behaviors and sensations of non -mastery of their reactions are defused, which open the way to the progress.
In addition, if the presence is found, a work objective is also to decrease the tendency to catastrophisation, the frequent duties and the high personal and social standards that in patients with IBS can aggravate and maintain the problem.
Research studies show us that CBT tools They are already effective in the treatment of the IBS, but that some approaches strengthen the results obtained over time. Many research have explored the effects, both in the short and in the long term, of Mindfulness -based approachesnoting the great benefits.
With Mindfulness techniques, an attitude of non -reaction and acceptance of negative emotions and sensations develops, automatically mitigating the activation of the cognitive mechanisms that we have seen influencing the hyper intestinal reactivity.
An attitude Mindful allows emotions to carry out their natural course and return to baselinerather than being retained and intensified by the brood. The selective attention is also reduced to the sensory components of pain, making the perception of pain more bearable and reducing its catastrophizes.
The application of mindfulness induces an improvement in the quality of life as it has effects on coping strategies, relieves depressive symptoms and anxiety levels.
Ultimately, therefore, cognitive-behavioral therapy helps us to face a physical discomfort by facing and managing the emotional, cognitive and behavioral implications that it brings with it, increasing the awareness of these mechanisms and promoting the learning of new strategies more functional to one’s physical and emotional well-being.
