title: Gut-focused hypnotherapy normalizes disordered rectal sensitivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have previously shown that hypnotherapy alters rectal sensitivity in some patients with irritable bowel syndrome. However, this previous study used incremental volume distension of a latex balloon, which might be susceptible to subject response bias and might compromise the assessment of compliance. In addition, the study group was symptomatically rather than physiologically defined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of hypnotherapy on rectal sensitivity in hypersensitive, hyposensitive and normally sensitive irritable bowel syndrome patients using a distension technique (barostat) that addresses these technical issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three irritable bowel syndrome (Rome I) patients (aged 24-72 years) were assessed before and after 12 weeks of hypnotherapy in terms of rectal sensitivity, symptomatology, anxiety and depression. Normal values for sensitivity were established in 17 healthy volunteers (aged 20-55 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, 10 patients were hypersensitive, seven hyposensitive and six normally sensitive before treatment. Following hypnotherapy, the mean pain sensory threshold increased in the hypersensitive group (P = 0.04) and decreased in the hyposensitive group, although the latter failed to reach statistical significance (P = 0.19). Normal sensory perception was unchanged. Sensory improvement in the hypersensitive patients tended to correlate with a reduction in abdominal pain (r = 0.714, P = 0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypnotherapy improves abnormal sensory perception in irritable bowel syndrome, leaving normal sensation unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Calvert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larder
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gonsalkorale
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Randles
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cruickshanks
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Whorwell
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000628:therapy*; D003187:Compliance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012677:Sensation