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Hypnotherapy Improves Quality Of Life For People With Irritable
Bowel Syndrome
Patients with
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who took part in hypnotherapy sessions
reported reduced symptoms and improved quality of life, according to
research published in the June issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing.
Dr Graeme D Smith from University of Edinburgh studied 75
patients with IBS - which affects up to one in seven adults - before
and after they took part in four to five treatment sessions over three
months.
He discovered that before the sessions, women were most
concerned with quality of life issues such as diet and energy and that
men had the highest levels of anxiety and depression and worried about
their physical role.
The 20 men and 55 women who took part in the study reported
that hypnotherapy brought about significant improvements in the
physical and emotional symptoms related to IBS.
These included a 30 per cent improvement in their emotional
quality of life and a 25 per cent improvement in energy levels.
Mental health improved by 21 per cent, sleep by 18 per cent,
physical health by 16 per cent and diet by 14 per cent.
The participants also reported that their social role had
improved by 20 per cent and their physical role by 18 per cent.
Average anxiety levels fell by 12 per cent and depression fell
by four per cent. Men showed higher levels of both problems before the
hypnotherapy sessions, but also reported greater improvements than
women.
The people taking part in the study also reported a five per
cent reduction in abdominal pain and a four per cent reduction in
abdominal bloating.
"It is estimated that between 10 to 15 per cent of adults may
suffer from IBS and that the physical, emotional, social and economic
consequences of the illness can be considerable" says Dr Smith, from
the University's School of Health (Nursing Studies).
"Physical symptoms include altered bowel habits, abdominal pain
and bloating, together with other non-intestinal problems such as
lethargy, problems sleeping and indigestion. Anxiety and psychosocial
problems are also common and these can have a detrimental impact on
quality of life."
The 75 study participants underwent hypnotherapy sessions that
focused on creating images of their gut symptoms using visualization
techniques in conjunction with relaxation methods.
Self-hypnosis was taught at an early stage and patients were
given audio tapes, that reinforced the effects of the hypnotherapy, to
use at home.
They also completed detailed questionnaires before and after
treatment and kept diary cards during the study.
"The patients involved in this study were typical of people
seen routinely in gastroenterology clinics, where up to 50 per cent of
the referrals are for IBS" says Dr Smith.
"There's no universal agreement about what causes IBS and
traditional treatment is often disappointing. This study shows that
hypnotherapy can effectively reduce symptoms and improve quality of
life and underlines the valuable role that complementary therapies can
play in modern healthcare."
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