Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: a role for hypnotherapy?
Fifteen patients with severe or very severe inflammatory bowel disease on corticosteroids but not responding to medication received 12 sessions of "gut-focused hypnotherapy" and were followed up for a mean duration of 5.4 years with disease severity being graded as remission, mild, moderate, severe, or very severe. Two patients (13.4%) failed to respond and required surgery. At follow-up for the remaining 13 patients, 4 (26.6%) were in complete remission, 8 (53.3%) had mild severity, and 1 (6.7%) was moderately severe. Quality of life became good or excellent in 12 (79.9%). Corticosteroid requirements dramatically declined with 60% of patients stopping them completely and not requiring any during follow-up. Hypnotherapy appears to be a promising adjunctive treatment for inflammatory bowel disease and has steroid sparing effects. Controlled trials to clearly define its role in this disease area are justified.
Miller
Vivien
V
University of Manchester, United Kingdom.
Whorwell
Peter J
PJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013404:Suggestion; D055815:Young Adult
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019804:Mesalamine; D001379:Azathioprine