Table 5.
Randomized controlled studies investigating the effects of hypnotherapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
| Study | Population | Variables | Intervention | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whorwell et al. (1984) Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome. Lancet. (55) | 30 (87% female) | Gastrointestinal symptoms General well-being |
Hypnotherapy vs. control (supportive psychotherapy) | Hypnotherapy group: significant improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms, no change in control group; benefit persisted after 3 months follow-up. |
| Galovski & Blanchard (1998) The treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with hypnotherapy. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. (56) | 12 (83% female) | IBS symptoms Anxiety |
6 weeks: 1x 30 min to 1 h gut directed hypnotherapy/week vs. control group: symptom watching waiting list | Greater improvement of gastrointestinal symptoms in hypnotherapy group, decrease of anxiety. |
| Simrén et al. (2004) Treatment with hypnotherapy reduces the sensory and motor component of the gastrocolonic response in irritable bowel syndrome. Psychosom Med. (57) | 26 (68% female) | IBS symptoms Barostat measurements |
12 weeks: 1x 1 h session gut-directed hypnotherapy/week vs. control (supportive therapy) | More frequent improvement in global symptoms in hypnotherapy vs. control group; hypnotherapy reduced the sensory and motor component gastrocolonic response. |
| Lindfors et al. (2012) Effects of gut-directed hypnotherapy on IBS in different clinical settings—results from two randomized, controlled trials. Am J Gastroenterol. (58) | Study 1: 90 (79% female) Study 2: 48 (81% female) |
IBS symptoms | Study 1: 12 weeks: 1x 1 h hypnotherapy/week + audiotapes for exercising at home vs. supportive therapy Study 2: hypnotherapy sessions in hospital vs. waiting list controls |
Improvement of IBS symptoms in 3 months in both studies; greater improvement in hypnotherapy groups. |
| Moser G et al. (2013) Long-term success of gut-directed group hypnosis for patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Gastroenterol. (59) | 90 (79% female) | Quality of life Psychological status IBS symptoms |
12 weeks: 10x 45 min gut-directed hypnotherapy sessions + exercise at home + medical treatment vs. control group (medical treatment) | Gut-directed hypnotherapy was superior to medication therapy and showed a long-term effect. |
| Rutten et al. (2017) Home-based hypnotherapy self-exercises vs. individual hypnotherapy with a therapist for treatment of pediatric irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, or functional abdominal pain syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Pediatr. (60) | 260 (72% female) | Pain frequency Intensity score |
Cd group: 3 months hypnotherapy with 3 exercises/week vs. therapist group: 3 months hypnotherapy with six sessions | Cd hypnotherapy is not inferior to therapist hypnotherapy. |
| Flik et al. (2019) Efficacy of individual and group hypnotherapy in irritable bowel syndrome (IMAGINE): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. (61) | 354 (76% female) | Quality of life IBS symptoms |
Individual hypnotherapy vs. group hypnotherapy vs. control group (education) | Improvement in life quality, somatic and psychological symptoms by hypnotherapy; no difference between individual or group therapies. |
Cd, compact disc; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome.