Psychological Therapies Have Long-Term Benefit for People Suffering from IBS

For some time doctors have known that psychological therapies can reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in the short term.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that affects 7-16% of the U.S. population, adding somewhere between $950 million to $1.35 billion annually to the nation's healthcare bill. IBS, which is characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, is classified as a disorder of the 'brain-gut axis'.

Although no cure is known, there are treatments to relieve symptoms including dietary adjustments, medication and psychological interventions. For some time doctors have known that psychological therapies can reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in the short term.

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) causes recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort and a fluctuating disturbance in defecation. IBS is not life threatening.

‘The beneficial effects of psychological therapy, including cognitive therapies, relaxation and hypnosis, in irritable bowel syndrome appear to last at least six to 12 months after the therapy has concluded.’

A new meta-analysis, published online in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, has now revealed that the beneficial effects of psychological therapy also appear to last at least six to 12 months after the therapy has concluded. The study analyzed the results of 41 clinical trials from a number of different countries containing more than 2,200 patients.

Senior author Lynn S. Walker, professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said, "Our study is the first one that has looked at long-term effects. We found that the moderate benefit that psychological therapies confer in the short term continue over the long term. This is significant because IBS is a chronic, intermittent condition for which there is no good medical treatment."

First author Kelsey Laird, a doctoral student in Vanderbilt's clinical psychology program, said, "Western medicine often conceptualizes the mind as separate from the body, but IBS is a perfect example of how the two are connected. Gastrointestinal symptoms can increase stress and anxiety, which can increase the severity of the symptoms. This is a vicious cycle that psychological treatment can help break."

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IBS is a chronic and debilitating functional disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract which affects around nine to 23 percent of people worldwide.

The studies that Laird analyzed included a number of different types of psychological therapies, including cognitive therapies, relaxation and hypnosis. Her analysis found no significant difference in the effectiveness of different types of psychotherapy. It also found that the length of the treatment (the number of sessions) didn't matter.

Possibly most significant from a healthcare cost perspective was the finding that treatments conducted online appear to be equally as effective as those conducted in person.

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a condition that causes serious inconvenience and discomfort to sufferers, which could have major implications in how it is both diagnosed and treated in the future.

Laird said, "In this study we looked at the effect of psychological therapies on gastrointestinal symptoms. In a follow-up study I am investigating the effect that they have on patients' ability to function: go to work, go to school, participate in social activities and so on."

Source-Eurekalert

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