Nurse-Administered Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Background: Gut-directed hypnotherapy is effective for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and a few studies have reported long-lasting therapeutic effects following intervention. No previous studies have evaluated the long-term effects of nurse-administered hypnotherapy.

Aims: We aimed to investigate the long-term effects of nurse-administered gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS and identify factors associated with symptom improvement. Furthermore, we aimed to compare treatment effects between individual and group hypnotherapy.

Methods: A 2-year follow-up study including 289 patients with IBS who had completed a 12-week hypnotherapy program (individually or in groups) was conducted. Data were collected at baseline, and at 6-month-, 1-year- and 2-year follow-ups. Irritable bowel syndrome and extracolonic symptom severity (IBS-SSS), gastrointestinal-specific anxiety (VSI), and anxiety and depressive symptoms (HADS) were assessed. Patients reporting a reduction ≥ 50 points (IBS-SSS) were classified as treatment responders.

Results: The 2-year follow-up was completed by 207 patients. The proportion of responders at post-treatment was 64.3%, 62.8% at the 6-month follow-up, 64.7% at the 1-year follow-up, and 61.8% at the 2-year follow-up. The severity of IBS symptoms, extracolonic and psychological symptoms were all reduced post-treatment, and this effect lasted over the 2-year follow-up period (p < 0.001). Younger age, individual hypnotherapy, and severe irritable bowel syndrome symptoms at baseline predicted a better response to treatment (R² = 0.16).

Conclusions: Nurse-administered gut-directed hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for IBS with long-lasting symptom improvements. Younger age, severe irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, and individual treatment might be important factors associated with effectiveness (ClinicalTrials.gov study protocol IDs: NCT06167018, NCT03432078).

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov study protocol IDs: NCT06167018, NCT03432078.

Keywords: extracolonic symptom; gut‐brain axis; hypnotherapy; irritable bowel syndrome; nurse; psychological treatment.