A Six-month Study to Compare Outcome Differences and Visceral Response ... Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If randomly assigned to this intervention, the session with the therapist will consist of training about IBS symptoms and their relationship to stress, as well as skills training in relaxation and ways of identifying and challenging mistaken thoughts about life events. The goal of this treatment is to lessen mental and physical stressful reactions to daily events, and therefore lessen IBS symptoms as a reaction to stress. The patient will be encouraged to apply relaxation skills to stressful situations.

If assigned to this group, the therapist will discuss feelings, over-attention to IBS symptoms, and your fear of IBS symptoms. Patients will learn how to identify thoughts that may increase your IBS symptoms and will practice how to change these thoughts to ones that make them feel more comfortable. The sessions will focus on reactions to daily life that in turn result in IBS Symptoms.

Those assigned to this group will be given educational materials about IBS and will discuss the reading material with the therapist. The reading topics include information on gut disorders, anatomy and physiology of the gut, assessment procedures, and how to manage IBS symptoms. Sessions will also consist of weekly reviews of daily records and IBS symptoms. The goal of this intervention is to provide educational training about IBS.