Table 1.

Randomized controlled studies investigating the effects of psychoeducation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Study	Population	Variables	Intervention	Results
Ringström et al. (2010) Structured patient education is superior to written information in the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. (28)	143 (87% female)	Quality of life Anxiety Depressive symptoms	Group education vs. IBS-manual	Group education: Increase of knowledge after 3 and 6 months, reduction of symptom-specific anxiety. No difference in groups: quality of life, anxiety, depressive complaints.
Labus et al. (2013) Randomised clinical trial: symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome are improved by a psychoeducation group intervention. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. (27)	69 (72% female)	Somatic symptoms Depressive symptoms Quality of life	5 weeks: psychoeducation + elements of CBT + progressive muscle relaxation vs. control group	After treatment: significant reduction of somatic complaints, depressive symptoms, and improvement of quality of life.