Hypnosis home treatment for irritable bowel syndrome: a pilot study.
Hypnosis treatment often improves irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the costs and reliance on specialized therapists limit its availability. A 3-month home-treatment version of a scripted hypnosis protocol previously shown to improve all central IBS symptoms was completed by 19 IBS patients. Outcomes were compared to those of 57 matched IBS patients from a separate study receiving only standard medical care. Ten of the hypnosis subjects (53%) responded to treatment by 3-month follow-up (response defined as more than 50% reduction in IBS severity) vs. 15 (26%) of controls. Hypnosis subjects improved more in quality of life scores compared to controls. Anxiety predicted poor treatment response. Hypnosis responders remained improved at 6-month follow-up. Although response rate was lower than previously observed in therapist-delivered treatment, hypnosis home treatment may double the proportion of IBS patients improving significantly across 6 months.
Palsson
Olafur S
OS
Division of Digestive Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. opalsson@med.unc.edu
Turner
Marsha J
MJ
Whitehead
William E
WE
D000328:Adult; D001326:Autogenic Training; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology