Hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: streamlining provision

INTERVENTION: Patients are randomly assigned to either the hypnotherapy group or conventional therapy group for treatment of IBS. CONDITION: Irritable bowel syndrome ; Digestive System ; Irritable bowel syndrome PRIMARY OUTCOME: Combined global outcome score and symptom severity scores SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Hospital Anxiety and Depression score; 2. Quality of life score; 3. Non colonic symptom score; 4. EQ5D INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome who are referred to the unit for hypnotherapy are eligible for this trial 2. Those with no other significant concomitant disease and agreeing to the study, having read the patient information details will be randomised to either of the treatment groups