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Hypnosis for irritable bowel syndrome
Clinical Question
Is specific ("gut-directed") hypnotherapy effective in decreasing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome?
Bottom line
A specific, gut-directed series of hypnosis sessions, delivered either individually or in a group, decreased symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in patients who previously had not responded to usual treatment. There was no placebo arm to assure us that the difference was not due to an expectancy effect. 1b
Reference
Study design: Randomized controlled trial (nonblinded)
Funding: Government
Setting: Outpatient (specialty)
Synopsis
These investigators enrolled 119 participants with documented irritable bowel syndrome (per Rome III criteria) who did not respond to usual medical therapy. Patients were randomized (concealed allocation unknown) to receive either group or individual "gut-directed" hypnotherapy, delivered by an experienced nurse over 8 sessions using a published protocol. There was no placebo or usual care group. Most (92.5%) of the patients completed treatment, signaling a highly motivated cohort. A clinically relevant response, defined as at least a 50-point drop in a symptom scale ranging from 0 to 100, occurred in 69% of participants who received individual therapy and 57% of patients who received group-based therapy. Extracolonic symptoms, psychological symptoms, and quality of life also improved in both groups.
Reviewer
Allen F. Shaughnessy, PharmD, MMedEd
Professor of Family Medicine
Tufts University
Boston, MA
Comments
Hypnotherapy for IBS
Certainly worth a try. IBS is primarily anxiety based.
Irritable bowel and hypotherapy
No placebo/sham group, not interested in reading abstract. Next...
ibs hypnosis
hypnosis may help
HYPNOSIS FOR IBS
IT IS AN OPTION