title: Psychological treatments for irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: This study conducted a systematic review to assess the quality of existing literature on psychological treatments for irritable bowel syndrome and to quantify the evidence for their efficacy. Three independent reviewers (2 from England, 1 from the United States) coded the quality of 32 studies, 17 of which provided data suitable for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of efficacy data (50% reduction of symptoms) gave an odds ratio of 12 (95% confidence interval = 5.56-25.96) and a number needed to treat of 2. Psychological treatments are, as a class of interventions, effective in reducing symptoms compared with a pooled group of control conditions. Questions regarding the relative superiority of specific psychological treatments and influence of active versus nonspecific treatment effects remain unanswered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Erie County Medical Center, 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA. lackner@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mesmer
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dowzer
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*