PURPOSE: The present study aimed to induce elevated symptom reports through the presentation of unpleasant cues in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and examine whether applying an emotion regulation technique (affect labeling) can reduce symptom reporting in patients. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with IBS (N = 29) and healthy controls (N = 26) were presented with six picture series (three pleasant, three unpleasant) under three within-subject conditions: merely viewing, emotional labeling, or content (non-emotional) labeling. Each picture viewing trial was followed by affect ratings and a symptom checklist, consisting of general arousal and IBS-specific symptoms. RESULTS: Viewing unpleasant pictures led to overall increased symptom reports, both for arousal and gastrointestinal symptoms, in both groups. Labeling the pictures did not reduce these effects significantly, although a trend toward less arousal symptoms after unpleasant cues emerged in the patient group only, especially during emotional labeling. CONCLUSIONS: Current findings indicate that the mere presentation of unpleasant cues can induce elevated symptom reports in IBS patients. The results of the labeling manipulation provide modest support for the effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies in reversing these effects of unpleasant cues in patients suffering from functional syndromes. Methodological issues that may have confounded present results are discussed.
PURPOSE: The present study aimed to induce elevated symptom reports through the presentation of unpleasant cues in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and examine whether applying an emotion regulation technique (affect labeling) can reduce symptom reporting in patients. METHODS:Patients diagnosed with IBS (N = 29) and healthy controls (N = 26) were presented with six picture series (three pleasant, three unpleasant) under three within-subject conditions: merely viewing, emotional labeling, or content (non-emotional) labeling. Each picture viewing trial was followed by affect ratings and a symptom checklist, consisting of general arousal and IBS-specific symptoms. RESULTS: Viewing unpleasant pictures led to overall increased symptom reports, both for arousal and gastrointestinal symptoms, in both groups. Labeling the pictures did not reduce these effects significantly, although a trend toward less arousal symptoms after unpleasant cues emerged in the patient group only, especially during emotional labeling. CONCLUSIONS: Current findings indicate that the mere presentation of unpleasant cues can induce elevated symptom reports in IBSpatients. The results of the labeling manipulation provide modest support for the effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies in reversing these effects of unpleasant cues in patients suffering from functional syndromes. Methodological issues that may have confounded present results are discussed.
Authors: Brjánn Ljótsson; Lisa Falk; Amanda Wibron Vesterlund; Erik Hedman; Perjohan Lindfors; Christian Rück; Timo Hursti; Sergej Andréewitch; Liselotte Jansson; Nils Lindefors; Gerhard Andersson Journal: Behav Res Ther Date: 2010-03-16
Authors: Kristin A Zernicke; Tavis S Campbell; Philip K Blustein; Tak S Fung; Jillian A Johnson; Simon L Bacon; Linda E Carlson Journal: Int J Behav Med Date: 2013-09
Authors: Susan A Gaylord; Olafur S Palsson; Eric L Garland; Keturah R Faurot; Rebecca S Coble; J Douglas Mann; William Frey; Karyn Leniek; William E Whitehead Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2011-06-21 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: Maria Rosaria A Muscatello; Antonio Bruno; Carmela Mento; Gianluca Pandolfo; Rocco A Zoccali Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2016-07-28 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Mark P Jensen; Peter D Galer; Linea L Johnson; Holly R George; M Elena Mendoza; Kevin J Gertz Journal: Clin J Pain Date: 2016-06 Impact factor: 3.442