The Research
Built on clinical evidence, gut directed hypnotherapy programs promote transformative, lasting change for people with Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBIs) such as irritable bowel syndrome.
A selection of some of the research supporting the use of gut directed hypnotherapy to treat DGBIs like IBS.
Miller V, Carruthers HR, Morris J, Hasan SS, Archbold S, Whorwell PJ. Hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome: an audit of one thousand adult patients. 2015.
Lindfors, et al., 2012: Effects of Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy on IBS in Different Clinical Settings — Results From Two Randomized, Controlled Trials.
Peters, et al., 2021: Randomised clinical trial: the efficacy of gut-directed hypnotherapy is similar to that of the low FODMAP diet for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
Vasant DH, Whorwell PJ. Gut‐focused hypnotherapy for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Evidence‐base, practical aspects, and the Manchester Protocol. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2019;31:e13573 10.1111/nmo.13573 - – this study concluded; “Gut‐focused hypnotherapy is a highly adaptable and effective treatment for refractory functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) which can be customized to the patient's symptoms. Not only has it consistently been shown to be superior to standard medical care, hypnosis has the added advantages of improving extra‐intestinal symptoms of FGIDs, improving psychological, cognitive function, and quality of life, and reducing healthcare utilization.”
Riehl, et al., 2015: The Feasibility and Acceptability of Esophageal-Directed Hypnotherapy for Functional Heartburn. Gastroenterology.
Berry, Sameer K. et al. A Randomized Parallel-group Study of Digital Gut-directed Hypnotherapy vs Muscle Relaxation for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Volume 21, Issue 12, 3152 - 3159.e2 This study acknowledged that gut-directed hypnotherapy (GDH) is effective for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and wanted to explore the safety and efficacy of a self-administered, digital GDH treatment program. The study found that treatment with a digital GDH program led to an improvement in abdominal pain and stool symptoms in patients with IBS.
Palsson, 2006: Standardized hypnosis treatment for irritable bowel syndrome: the North Carolina protocol.
Palsson, et al., 2006: Hypnosis treatment of severe irritable bowel syndrome: Investigation of mechanism and effects on symptoms.
Ramondo, N., Gignac, G. E., Pestell, C. F., & Byrne, S. M. (2021). Clinical Hypnosis as an Adjunct to Cognitive Behavior Therapy: An Updated Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 69(2), 169–202.