title: Nurse-Administered, Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy in IBS: Efficacy and Factors Predicting a Positive Response.
abstract: Hypnotherapy is an effective treatment in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is often delivered by a psychotherapist and is costly and time consuming. Nurse-administered hypnotherapy could increase availability and reduce costs. In this study the authors evaluate the effectiveness of nurse-administered, gut-directed hypnotherapy and identify factors predicting treatment outcome. Eighty-five patients were included in the study. Participants received hypnotherapy by a nurse once/week for 12 weeks. Patients reported marked improvement in gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-colonic symptoms after treatment, as well as a reduction in GI-specific anxiety, general anxiety, and depression. Fifty-eight percent were responders after the 12 weeks treatment period, and of these 82% had a favorable clinical response already at week 6. Women were more likely than men to respond favorably to the treatment. Nurse-administered hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for IBS. Being female and reporting a favorable response to treatment by week 6 predicted a positive treatment response at the end of the 12 weeks treatment period.
authors.affiliation: a University of Gothenburg , Gothenburg , Sweden.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lövdahl
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ringström
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agerforz
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Törnblom
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simrén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: IBS; abdominal pain; adult; gut-directed hypnotherapy; nursing