Background: Recently it is accentuated on the role of psychological symptoms in the course of chronic diseases and applying psychological interventions as complementary interventions. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management, optimism training and conevntional medical therapy on somatic symptoms, perceived stress, illness perception and quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Materials and Methods: In this study, thirty female patients were selected accidentally, and randomly assigned into three groups including cognitive-behavioral stress management(n=10), optimism training(n=10) and conventional medical therapy(n=10). All patients completed Perceived Stress Scale, Illness Perception questionnaire, WHO Quality of Life questionnaire, and Lichtiger Colitis Activity Index. Then, experimental groups participated in 9 sessions of  cognitive-behavioral stress management and optimism training group interventions. Thereafter, three groups answered to scales again. This course was repeated in a 6-mounth follow-up. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data.

Results:  The findings indicated that the effects of two interventions were significant on patient´s illness perception, perceived stress and quality of life however, these interventions did not change somatic symptoms.

Conclusion: Totally, it can be said that psychological interventions such as stress management and optimism training can be effective on improving the psychological symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis and their cure.

Background: Childbirth is a stressful event that requires a mental adjustment. Optimism is one of the important determinants of psychological adjustment which is a combination of interest and positive attitude. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of optimism training during pregnancy on attitude and intentions to choose the mode of delivery in nulliparous women.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial , 64 primipar pregnant women with normal pregnancies, 34-30 weeks, without indication for cesarean section referring to the health centers in Mashhad in 2014 were selected and were randomly divided into two groups , A (trained) and B (no training). Optimism training during 5 session of the 60-minute, with the group participation of participants and active exercises was conducted. Data were analyzed with using the software SPSS and statistical tests including variance analysis, Fischer exact test, willcoxon, Square-Chi and paired t-test.

Results: Average attitude score towards c/s delivery in the study group, before and after training has a significant difference (p<0.001). Average attitude score towards natural childbirth was significantly higher in intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.002). Frequency of intentions to choose the mode of delivery in the study group, before and after training has a significant difference (p<0.033).

Conclusion: Reults showed that optimism training in creating a positive attitude towards natural childbirth and thus reducing the rate of elective c/s delivery is effective.