Effects of hypnotherapy joint with drug therapy and drug therapy on severity and frequency of the symptoms of patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most prevalent functional bowel disorders which is characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habit in the absence of any observable causes (IBS). Hypnotherapy is suggested to be effective in decreasing symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome، but few studies have been done in this regard. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hypnotherapy with drug therapy on severity and frequency of symptoms of patient''s with irritable bowel syndrome. In this clinical trial study 34 IBS patients were divided into two groups of hypnotherapy plus drug therapy or drug therapy alone. Bowel symptoms severity and frequency Scale (BSS-FS) was used for evaluation of patient s’ symptoms in pre-test، post – test and 6 months after treatment (follow-up). Data were analyzed using Ancova test. There were significant differences in the severity and frequency of IBS symptoms between the two groups in post-test stage regarding BSS-FS (P<0. 05). However، no significant difference was abserved at follow up stage between the two groups (P>0. 05). Hypnotherapy in addition to drug therapy might be effective useful in decreasing the severity and frequency of symptoms of IBS-D patients. However، stopping this treatment may lead to recurrence of the symptoms.