Table 7.
Randomized controlled studies investigating the effects of relaxation therapy in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
| Study | Population | Measured variable | Intervention | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett & Wilkinson (1985) A comparison of psychological and medical treatment of the irritable bowel syndrome. Br J Clin Psychol. (70) | 33 (70% female) | IBS symptoms Anxiety |
Progressive muscle relaxation vs. medical treatment | Reduction of initial high anxiety levels in relaxation group only; IBS symptoms were reduced in both groups. |
| Lynch & Zamble (1989) A controlled behavioral treatment study of irritable bowel syndrome. Behav Ther. (73) | 21 (67% female) | IBS symptoms Mood Self perception |
8 weeks: 1x 2 h relaxation therapy /week and audio material for practicing twice at home vs. control group (waiting period) | Improvement of measured variables after treatment; benefit persisted for 5 months. |
| Shaw et al. (1991) Stress management for irritable bowel syndrome: a controlled trial. Digestion. (69) | 35 (57% female) | IBS symptoms | 6x 40 min sessions stress management program vs. control group (conventional therapy including antispasmodic) | 2/3 of patients attending the stress program showed relief in symptoms and fewer attacks of less severity; benefit maintained for 12 months. |
| Blanchard et al. (1993) Relaxation training as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome. Biofeedback Self Regul. (71) | 23 (78% female) | Gastrointestinal symptoms | 2 weeks: two sessions progressive muscle relaxation/week, 6 weeks: one session progressive muscle relaxation/week with regular home training vs. control group (monitoring) | Relaxation showed greater improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms than the symptom monitoring group. |
| Keefer & Blanchard (2001) The effects of relaxation response meditation on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: results of a controlled treatment study. Behav Res Ther. (74) | 13 (69% female) | IBS symptoms | 6 weeks: 1x 30 min relaxation response meditation/week vs. control group (waiting list) | Meditation was superior to control. |
| Kuttner et al. (2006) A randomized trial of yoga for adolescents with irritable bowel syndrome. Pain Res Manag. (75) | 28 (71% female) | Gastrointestinal symptoms Pain Functional disability Anxiety Depression |
Yoga intervention: 1 h instruction, daily home practice over 4 weeks vs. control group (wait list) | Yoga group showed lower levels of functional disability, lower avoidance behavior and less anxiety symptoms compared to control. |
| van der Veek et al. (2007) Clinical trial: short- and long-term benefit of relaxation training for irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. (76) | 98 (73% female) | IBS symptom severity Quality of life Frequency of doctor visits |
4x 90 min sessions of relaxation therapy in small groups vs. control group (standard medical care) | Improvement in the measured variables by relaxation therapy compared to control; number needed to treat for long-term improvement was 5. |
| Shinozaki et al. (2010) Effect of autogenic training on general improvement in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. (77) | 21 (52% female) | IBS symptoms Anxiety Depression |
8 weeks: 1x 30–40 min session autogenic training/week vs. control group (discussions) | Improvement of social functioning and bodily pain by autogenic training. |
| Boltin et al. (2015) Gut-directed guided affective imagery as an adjunct to dietary modification in irritable bowel syndrome. J Health Psychol. (78) | 34 (76% female) | Symptom severity Quality of life |
8 weeks: 1x 3 h session psychotherapy + guided affective imagery vs. control (no psychotherapy) | Reduction of symptom severity and improvement of quality of life by affective imagination. |
| Thakur et al. (2017) Emotional awareness and expression training improves irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Neurogastroenterol Motil, (72) | 106 (80% female) | Symptom severity Quality of life |
2 weeks: 3x 50 min sessions relaxation therapy or emotional awareness/expression training or control (wait list) | Relaxation training reduced depressive symptoms; emotional awareness/expression training reduced IBS symptom severity and improved quality of life after 10 weeks follow-up while it did not reduce somatic symptoms. |
| Schumann et al. (2018) Randomised clinical trial: yoga vs. 6low-FODMAP diet in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. (79) | 59 (n.s.) | Gastrointestinal symptoms Quality of life |
12 weeks: two sessions/week yoga + exercise at home vs. control group (FODMAP) | Reduction of gastrointestinal symptoms in both groups; yoga reduced anxiety symptoms. |
FODMAP, fermentable, oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; n.s., not specified.