Mindfulness for irritable bowel syndrome: protocol development for a controlled clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional bowel disorder with symptoms of abdominal pain and disturbed defecation experienced by 10% of U.S. adults, results in significant disability, impaired quality of life, and health-care burden. Conventional medical care focusing on pharmacological approaches, diet, and lifestyle management has been partially effective in controlling symptoms. Behavioral treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and hypnosis, are promising. This paper describes an on-going feasibility study to assess the efficacy of mindfulness training, a behavioral treatment involving directing and sustaining attention to present-moment experience, for the treatment of IBS.


METHODS
The study design involves randomization of adult women with IBS according to Rome II criteria, to either an eight-week mindfulness training group (based on a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction [MBSR] format) or a previously validated IBS social-support group as an attention-control condition. The primary hypothesis is that, compared to Support Group participants, those in the Mindfulness Program will demonstrate significant improvement in IBS symptoms as measured by the IBS Symptom Severity Scale [1].


CONCLUSIONS
214 individuals have been screened for eligibility, of whom 148 were eligible for the study. Of those, 87 were enrolled, with 21 withdrawing after having given consent. 66 have completed or are in the process of completing the interventions. It is feasible to undertake a rigorous randomized clinical trial of mindfulness training for people with IBS, using a standardized MBSR protocol adapted for those experiencing IBS, compared to a control social-support group previously utilized in IBS studies.


BACKGROUND
Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT00680693.
Gaylord
Susan A
SA
Program on Integrative Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. susan_gaylord@med.unc.edu
Whitehead
William E
WE
Coble
Rebecca S
RS
Faurot
Keturah R
KR
Palsson
Olafur S
OS
Garland
Eric L
EL
Frey
William
W
Mann
John Douglas
JD
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D059408:Pain Management; D012107:Research Design; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*