Psychological treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

This chapter presents an overview of the research from around the world on the psychological treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This review is limited to reports of randomized controlled trials and does not include the Albany studies, which are considered in another chapter in this volume (see record [rid]2000-16942-021[/rid]). It is noted that there are at least 4 (and possibly 6) distinctly different psychological treatments that have been evaluated in randomized controlled trials as treatments for IBS: brief psychodynamic psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and various combinations of cognitive and behavioral treatments (CBT). The research for each of these treatments is reviewed. It is concluded that there is strong empirical support from the studies summarized in this chapter for brief psychodynamic psychotherapy and hypnotherapy. The evidence in support of CBT is less impressive but more widespread. Combining the literature discussed in this chapter on CBT with the literature from the Albany studies mentioned in a different chapter, the author argues that CBT is supportable as a third viable treatment alternative for IBS. Biofeedback of bowel sounds for diarrhea-predominant IBS patients awaits further study, especially with larger samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)