IBS Hypnotherapy For Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Complementary Therapy Clinic

Hypnotherapy may help patients with irritable bowel syndrome 
Clinical Review: A psychological approach to the management of irritable bowel syndrome

Antidepressants and psychological treatments such as hypnotherapy have the potential to help patients with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), say researchers in the BMJ. 

IBS is a very common disorder, but conventional 'physical' treatments often do not work very well and patients can feel that their symptoms are being ignored, downplayed or misunderstood. 

Patients with IBS are more likely to suffer from depression and have 'abnormal' behaviour patterns including anxiety and somatisation (conversion of an emotional, mental, or psychosocial problem to a physical complaint). This has led to the idea that IBS has a psychological as well as a biological basis and a growing body of evidence supports the use of antidepressants for IBS, write the authors. 

However, many doctors are reluctant to prescribe such agents to patients who are clearly not depressed. 

Other "psychological" therapies exist that patients with IBS should be made aware of, they say. For example, 'talking therapy' (known as cognitive behavioural therapy) is as effective as antidepressant treatment and its benefits last longer. 

Source: BMJ (British Medical Journal)

Soothe Your Stomach - irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Psychotherapy—cognitive behavioral therapy, stress management, relaxation therapy, and hypnosis — are helpful for severe symptoms. Psychology Today Magazine, May/Jun 2008

"... When drugs and dietary changes don't provide relief from the pain, bloating and other unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, patients may want to try a different approach."  Harnessing the Mind to Manage Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis may help ease symptoms, research shows.  By Karen Pallarito, U.S. News & World Report

From BBC News

Hypnosis 'can ease bowel illness' - Hypnotherapy could help people with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers say. Doctors should consider using this and other "psychological" treatments such as antidepressants to help sufferers, King's College London experts say in the British Medical Journal.

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