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Research: VIDAKOVIC VUKIC, Sint
Listed in Issue 65
Abstract
VIDAKOVIC VUKIC, Sint Lucas Ziekenhuis, Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands investigated hypnotherapy in the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) .
Background
IBS is relatively common, but its cause and pathogenesis are still unknown. However, individual perceptions clearly play an important part in the pathogenesis of the hypersensitive/hyperreactive gut. There is no easy medical treatment for IBS. In recent years, however, hypnotherapy has been found to be a successful treatment.
Methodology
The author reports recently starting treating IBS patients with hypnotherapy. All the patients had remained symptomatic despite medical therapy. The gut-targeted method of hypnotherapy was applied, with the view that therapy should be tailored to the individual in accordance with each person's unique representative style.
Results
At the time of this report, 27 patients had been treated as described. The author describes the results as 'good', 'comparable with results elsewhere' . 2 of the 27 patients stopped the therapy prematurely and 1 remained symptomatic. All the other 24 patients experienced clear improvement: pain and flatulence were reduced or eliminated, and bowel habits were normalized .
Conclusion
Based on data from the published literature and the author's own findings, the author concludes that hypnotherapy is a valuable addition to conventional treatment of IBS . Further research is needed to: 1) improve knowledge of sensitivity to hypnotherapy ; 2) recognize cases with greater hypersensitivity; and 3) recognize cases dominated by hypervigilance . More generally, there is a need for a theoretical model of hypnotherapy as applied to treating physiological disorders .
References
Vidakovic Vukic M. Hypnotherapy in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: methods and results in Amsterdam. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology (Supplement) 230: 49-51. 1999.
Comment
That hypnotherapy can be a valuable addition in the treatment programme for IBS is good news. See also Anne McIntyre's column this issue on page 18.
