New Delhi, Oct 10
Behavioural therapies may be effective for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) -- an intestinal disorder causing pain in the stomach -- according to a study on Friday.
IBS affects around 5 per cent of people worldwide and is characterised by abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits.
There is no cure, and treatments such as diet changes and medications often only provide partial relief of symptoms; therefore, medical guidelines also recommend considering behavioural therapies.
The study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, showed that brain-gut behaviour therapies, including forms of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH), can be effective.
“The study highlights the potential of brain-gut behavioural therapies such as CBT and GDH as treatment options for managing IBS,” said Prof Alexander C Ford, corresponding author, from the University of Leeds, UK.