Abstract
BACKGROUND: In western populations irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects between 10% and 30% of the population and has a significant effect on quality of life. It generates a substantial workload in both primary and secondary care and has significant cost implications. Gut-directed hypnotherapy has been demonstrated to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life but has not been assessed outside of secondary and tertiary referral centres. AIM: To assess the effectiveness of gut-directed hypnotherapy as a complementary therapy in the management of IBS. DESIGN OF STUDY: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care patients aged 18-65 years inclusive, with a diagnosis of IBS of greater than 6 weeks' duration and having failed conventional management, located in South Staffordshire and North Birmingham, UK. METHOD: Intervention patients received five sessions of hypnotherapy in addition to their usual management. Control patients received usual management alone. Data regarding symptoms and quality of life were collected at baseline and again 3, 6, and 12 months post-randomisation. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated a significant improvement in all symptom dimensions and quality of life over 12 months. At 3 months the intervention group had significantly greater improvements in pain, diarrhoea and overall symptom scores (P
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 115-121 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | British Journal of General Practice |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue number | 523 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2006 |
Keywords
- randomised controlled trial
- irritable bowel syndrome
- hypnotherapy
