title: Flexible coping psychotherapy for functional dyspeptic patients: a randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study tested the efficacy of a new psychotherapy, flexible coping psychotherapy (FCP), specifically designed for enhancing coping flexibility of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). The design of this psychotherapy is based on the general cognitive-behavioral model and previous findings on FD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We adopted a randomized, controlled design to examine the differences between the target (FCP) and control (supportive psychotherapy [SPP]) conditions. Coping flexibility and outcome measures reported by 75 Chinese FD patients (18-65 years; 35% men) were assessed before and 12 months after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed that participants who received the FCP reported an increase in coping flexibility as well as reductions in self-rated dyspeptic symptom severity (SDSS), gastroenterologist-rated dyspeptic symptom severity, and anxiety levels (p values <.01). Participants who received the SPP reported reductions in SDSS and anxiety levels (p values <.0001). Although both groups reported a decrease in SDSS, only the SDSS level of the FCP group was comparable to that of a healthy community sample (p = .28).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that FCP is a potentially effective intervention for treating FD symptoms. Its effectiveness may be attributable to the specific components of FCP rather than common psychotherapeutic factors such as emotional support and empathy per se.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. ceci-cheng@hku.hk
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Feng-Chi
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hutton
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome