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Background and Aim: Patients with the symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases and ulcers constitute a large number of patients referring to general and internal clinics. Furthermore, preliminary studies on gastric ulcers highlighted the role of psychological factors in the development of a susceptible gastric ulcer. The current study aimed to determine the effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on pain intensity and stress coping styles in patients with gastric ulcers.
Methods & Materials: This was an experimental study with a pretest-posttest-follow-up and a control group design. The statistical population included all patients with a gastric ulcer who were referred to public health centers in Tehran City, Iran, in the winter of 2018. Among the volunteers participating in the study, 30 patients with gastric ulcers were selected by the convenience sampling method. Next, they were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (n=15/group). Measurement tools included the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS; Endler & Parker, 1990). The experimental group subjects participated in eight 90-minute sessions of CBT. However, the controls received no psychological treatment in this period. For data analysis, repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests were applied.
Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch (Code: IR.IAU.K.REC.1397.85).
Results: The present research results signified that CBT improved problem-oriented coping styles (P<0.01) and decreased emotion-focused coping styles (P<0.01) and avoidance (P<0.01) in the test group. Besides, the mean scores of pain intensity decreased in the experimental group, compared to the controls (P<0.01).
Conclusion: The provided CBT was effective on pain intensity and stress coping styles in patients with gastric ulcers.

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Background and Aim: Despite numerous advances in treating various diseases and increased life expectancy, obesity will be the leading cause of hopelessness in the next 100 years. The present study aimed to compare the effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on lifestyle habits, disordered eating behavior, and health-promoting lifestyle in obese women. 
Methods & Materials: The statistical population consisted of all women referring to obesity clinics in district 2 of Tehran City, Iran, in 2019. Forty-Five patients were selected by convenience sampling method and replaced in 3 groups of 15 (two experimental & one control groups). The study participants were assessed using the Assessment of Life Habits Scale (LIFE-H)), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II). The ACT group underwent nine 90-minute sessions and the CBT group received eight 90-minute sessions. The control group received no training. The collected data were analyzed using Mixed Design and repeated-measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in SPSS.
Ethical Considerations This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch (Code: IR.IAU.K.REC.1398.039).
Results: The present research results signified that ACT and CBT were effective on the habits of eating disorders and health-promoting lifestyles in the explored obese women. The achieved changes remained stable until the follow-up phase (P<0.001). Moreover, ACT was more successful than CBT in improving the components of life habits and health responsibilities in the study subjects (P<0.001). 
Conclusion: Considering the significant effect of group-based ACT and CBT, it is recommended to use these methods to increase the mental health of obese individuals.