Online, Gut-directed Hypnotherapy for Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

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.