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Key Points

Behavioural therapies are emerging as effective treatments for irritable bowel syndrome, a condition affecting 5% of people globally. The latest research shows that brain-gut focused approaches like cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnotherapy can significantly improve symptoms. These therapies work by helping patients change their thought patterns about symptoms or through hypnotic suggestion. While promising, researchers emphasize the need for more comprehensive studies to fully understand which patients benefit most from these approaches.

Key Points: Behavioural Therapies Show Promise for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Brain-gut therapies like CBT help patients manage and accept chronic IBS symptoms
  • Gut-directed hypnotherapy uses trance-like states to suggest symptom improvement
  • Study analyzed 67 clinical trials involving over 7,400 participants worldwide
  • Researchers call for larger trials to confirm which patients benefit most
  • Current confidence remains limited for non-brain-gut behavioural approaches
  • Both in-person and digital delivery methods showed significant effectiveness
2 min read

Behavioural therapies may be effective at treating irritable bowel syndrome

New study reveals cognitive behavioural therapy and gut-directed hypnotherapy can effectively manage IBS symptoms, offering hope for millions suffering from this chronic condition.

"The study highlights the potential of brain-gut behavioural therapies such as CBT and GDH as treatment options for managing IBS - Prof Alexander C Ford"

New Delhi, Oct 10

Behavioural therapies may be effective for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -- an intestinal disorder causing pain in the stomach -- according to a study on Friday.

IBS affects around 5 per cent of people worldwide and is characterised by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.

There is no cure, and treatments such as diet changes and medications often only provide partial relief of symptoms; therefore, medical guidelines also recommend considering behavioural therapies.

The study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, showed that brain-gut behaviour therapies, including forms of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH), can be effective.

“The study highlights the potential of brain-gut behavioural therapies such as CBT and GDH as treatment options for managing IBS,” said Prof Alexander C Ford, corresponding author, from the University of Leeds, UK.

CBT enables patients to change how they think and act to manage and accept their symptoms, while in gut-directed hypnotherapy, people are put into a trance-like state before receiving suggestions that their symptoms are improving.

“However, current confidence is limited, particularly for behavioural therapies not classified as brain-gut behavioural therapies,” Ford said.

This includes therapies such as contingency management (using rewards to reinforce desired actions) or stress-reduction techniques, said the researchers.

The global study, also including researchers from Canada and the US, builds on a previous 2020 meta-analysis and includes a total of 67 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 7,441 participants.

The review compared the effectiveness of behavioural therapies against various controls, such as receiving education, dietary advice, or routine care, as well as against each other.

CBT and gut-directed hypnotherapy -- delivered either in-person or via an app or the internet -- were found to be more effective than standard treatments, based on the participants comparing their symptoms before and after.

The researchers called for larger, more rigorous RCTs to be conducted to confirm the effectiveness of different behavioural therapies and to identify which patients are most likely to benefit.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
This is great news! But I wonder how accessible these therapies will be in India. Most people here rely on home remedies and basic medications. Will insurance cover CBT and hypnotherapy?
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Sarah B
Interesting study, but I'm concerned about the sample size. 7,441 participants sounds like a lot, but for a global study and considering IBS affects millions, we need more comprehensive research.
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Ananya R
My mother has been suffering from IBS for decades. We've tried everything from Ayurveda to allopathic medicines. The idea that therapy could help is revolutionary for us. Hope this becomes available in Indian hospitals soon!
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Vikram M
The app-based therapy option is promising! In today's digital India, this could reach so many people in tier 2 and 3 cities where specialist doctors are scarce. Digital healthcare is the future 🇮🇳
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Michael C
While this research is important, I wish they had included more traditional Indian approaches like yoga and meditation in the study. These have been helping people manage stress and digestive issues for centuries.
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Kavya N
Finally doctors are recognizing that gut health is connected to mental health! In our fast-paced lives with work stress and irregular eating habits, so many young Indians are developing digestive issues. This approach makes complete sense. 👍

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