Positive Health Online

Abstract

BOLTIN and COLLEAGUES, 1. Division of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel dboltin@gmail.com; 2. Division of Gastroenterology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel; 3. Department of Biostatistics, Bar-Ilan University, Israel studied the effects of guided affective imagery in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Background

This work aimed to study the effect of guided affective imagery on the irritable bowel syndrome.

Methodology

A total of 15 irritable bowel syndrome patients received guided affective imagery and 19 patients served as controls. Symptom severity and irritable bowel syndrome quality of life were measured at baseline and 8 weeks.

Results

Symptom severity decreased following guided affective imagery compared to controls (-1.5 ± 1.9 vs 0.1 ± 1.6, p = 0.04). Irritable bowel syndrome quality of life increased following guided affective imagery compared to controls (12.1 ± 12.5 vs -0.7 ± 16.2, p < 0.01). Guided affective imagery predicted reduced symptom severity (odds ratio = 5.71, p = 0.02) and increased irritable bowel syndrome quality of life (odds ratio = 17.88, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Guided affective imagery combined with dietary modification may be beneficial in the management of irritable bowel syndrome, however larger studies are required.

References

Boltin D1, Sahar N2, Gil E2, Aizic S2, Hod K2, Levi-Drummer R3, Niv Y2, Dickman R2. Gut-directed guided affective imagery as an adjunct to dietary modification in irritable bowel syndrome. J Health Psychol. 20(6):712-20. doi: 10.1177/1359105315573450. Jun 2015.

Comment

the above research demonstrated that guided imagery along with dietary changes may be clinically beneficial in the management of irritable bowel syndrome; however more research is required.