Adult IBS patients with symptoms refractory to standard medical treatment will receive online nurse-administered, gut-directed hypnotherapy in groups. The primary outcome measure was change in gastro-intestinal symptom severity. Secondary outcomes are GI-specific anxiety, general anxiety and depression, quality of life, and extracolonic symptom severity. Usability of the digital platform as well as patient treatment satisfaction will also be assessed.
IBS patients with symptoms refractory to standard treatment and who were referred to a specialist unit for hypnotherapy, will be included in the study consecutively. The patients will receive gut-directed hypnotherapy given by a nurse trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy. Effects of treatment will be measured by validated questionnaires at baseline and at various time points during the treatment period, as well as after the completion of the treatment at follow-up 6 months, 1 and 2 years after treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
Gut-directed hypnotherapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Gut-directed hypnotherapy (8 sessions), will be given online in a group setting.The hypnosis treatment is administered by a nurse specially trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy. The treatment is based on the North Carolina protocol. Patients will assess gastro-intestinal symptom severity before, during and after treatment, as well as at follow-up.
Mag-Tarmlab, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Gothenburg, Sweden
Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Gothenburg, Sweden
Change in gastrointestinal symptom severity measured by the IBS Severity Scoring System questionnaire (IBS-SSS)
The score is calculated from 5 items: pain severity, pain frequency, abdominal bloating severity, bowel habit dissatisfaction and daily life interference. The score ranges from 0-500. A higher the score signifies more severe symptoms. A symptom score reduction of 50 points or more after treatment compared to the baseline score is considered a response to treatment.
Time frame: Baseline (week 0), during treatment (week 6), at treatment completion (week 12), follow-up (6 months, 1 and 2 years after treatment initiation)
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