Hypnotherapy for IBS was explored in the 1980’s sporned by the work of Gasroenterologist, Professor Peter Whorwell, in Manchester, England. He published an article on IBS and Hypnotherapy in 1984 (“A Controlled Trial of Hypnotherapy in the Treatment of Severe Refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome”, Lancet, 1984 Whorwell PJ, Prior A, Faragher EB.)

This study was comprised of patients in three groups, a hypnotherapy group, a psychotherapy group and a placebo group. The results showed that hypnotherapy group compared to the psychotherapy and placebo groups, showed dramatic improvement in:

• abdominal pain
• abdominal distension
• general well being
• bowel habit

Research continued by Professor Whorwell and his associates (and does so to this day). Other collaborations and research also developed, notably the work of Olafur Palsson in North Carolina (in collaboration with Dr William Whitehead). This commenced around the mid 1990’s, furthering the landmark research of Professor Whorwell. Studies continued to show 70-80% improvement in frequency and / or severity of symptoms from hypnotherapy interventions.

In my own pilot study based on the research of Dr Palsson and conducted in conjunction with Gastroenterologist, Dr John Argyrides, patient’s IBS symptoms were assessed as mild, moderate or severe. Out of 15 patients, at onset, 10 fell in the severe category, 5 in the moderate category and none in the mild category. After the hypnotherapy intervention, 2 remained in the severe category, 4 in the moderate and 9 in the mild. Of course, results will vary depending on each individual’s personal circumstances.

Hypnotherapy research continues, for IBS and for a broad range of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Many people’s perception of hypnosis or hypnotherapy is what they see as “stage hypnosis”, where people have minimal recall of what they do and what is said to them. Of course this is vastly different from therapeutic hypnosis. Michael Yapko describes hypnosis as…..

“Hypnosis involves an experiential absorption, a powerful focus on some stimulus (such as a thought, a feeling, a memory, an expectation, a sensation, the words of the clinician, or any specific aspect of experience)”

Hypnotherapy techniques have evolved in many ways over many years and represent a vehicle to allow patients to experience and see things in different way. Being in a very focused and absorbed state, also allows people to influence what is happening in their body in a more effective way.

Research is also continuing around other psychological therapies and their effectiveness on IBS and FGIDs, especially techniques such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Mindfulness. Such techniques are helpful where people display patterns of thinking and behaviour that is unhelpful in their lives or toward their symptoms, especially where anxiety may be present. Of course, anxiety is often present in people with IBS due to the intrusiveness of symptoms in people’s lives.