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Hypnosis Treatment for Severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Investigation of Mechanism and Effects on Symptoms

Digestive Diseases and Sciences volume 47, pages 2605–2614 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Hypnosis improves irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the mechanism is unknown. Possible physiological and psychological mechanisms were investigated in two studies. Patients with severe irritable bowel syndrome received seven biweekly hypnosis sessions and used hypnosis audiotapes at home. Rectal pain thresholds and smooth muscle tone were measured with a barostat before and after treatment in 18 patients (study I), and treatment changes in heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, finger temperature, and forehead electromyographic activity were assessed in 24 patients (study II). Somatization, anxiety, and depression were also measured. All central IBS symptoms improved substantially from treatment in both studies. Rectal pain thresholds, rectal smooth muscle tone, and autonomic functioning (except sweat gland reactivity) were unaffected by hypnosis treatment. However, somatization and psychological distress showed large decreases. In conclusion, hypnosis improves IBS symptoms through reductions in psychological distress and somatization. Improvements were unrelated to changes in the physiological parameters measured.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Olafur S. Palsson, Marsha J. Turner, Charles K. Burnett & William E. Whitehead

  2. Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

    David A. Johnson

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  1. Olafur S. Palsson
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  2. Marsha J. Turner
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  3. David A. Johnson
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  4. Charles K. Burnett
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  5. William E. Whitehead
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Palsson, O.S., Turner, M.J., Johnson, D.A. et al. Hypnosis Treatment for Severe Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Investigation of Mechanism and Effects on Symptoms. Dig Dis Sci 47, 2605–2614 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020545017390

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020545017390

  • irritable bowel syndrome
  • somatization
  • psychological distress
  • autonomic nervous system
  • hypnosis
  • barostat