Research: Hypnotherapy for IBS (Gonsalkorale, 2013)

Can hypnotherapy help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

204 patients completed questionnaires that scored symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depression before, immediately after, and up to six years following hypnotherapy.

Patients were given twelve, hour long, weekly hypnotherapy sessions

71% of patients initially responded to the hypnotherapy.

81% of those maintained their improvement over time, while the other 19% claimed only a slight deterioration.

There were no significant differences in the symptom scores between IBS hypnotherapy patients assessed at 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5+ years following hypnotherapy treatment.

Quality of life and anxiety or depression scores were similarly still significantly improved but did show some deterioration.

Patients also reported a reduction in consultation rates and medication use following the completion of hypnotherapy.

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms include abdominal pain, distension, and altered bowel habit. There may also be associated extra-colonic symptoms, such as nausea, lethargy, and backache.

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