Clinical Hypnotherapy Research Group, Medical Student Research Committee,

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan, Iran.

gholamrezaei@edc.mui.ac.ir

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder

characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence

of any organic cause. Despite its prevalence, there remains a significant lack of

efficient medical treatment for IBS to date. However, according to some previous

research studies, hypnosis has been shown to be effective in the treatment of IBS.

AIM: To determine the definite efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of irritable

bowel syndrome. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature on hypnosis in

the treatment of IBS from 1970 to 2005 was performed using MEDLINE. Full

studies published in English were identified and selected for inclusion. We excluded

case studies and those studies in which IBS symptoms were not in the list of outcome

measures. All studies were reviewed on the basis of the Rome Working Team

recommendations for design of IBS trials. RESULTS: From a total of 22 studies,

seven were excluded. The results of the reviewed studies showed improved status

of all major symptoms of IBS, extracolonic symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and

depression. Furthermore these improvements lasted 2-5 years.

CONCLUSIONS: Although there are some methodologic inadequacies, all studies

show that hypnotherapy is highly effective for patients with refractory IBS, but

definite efficacy of hypnosis in the treatment of IBS remains unclear due to lack

of controlled trials supporting this finding.

PMID: 16884342 [PubMed - in process] www.pubmed.gov