Internet-delivered exposure and mindfulness based therapy for irritable bowel syndrome – A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Behaviour research and therapy Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 531 - 539
• Main Authors: Ljótsson, Brjánn, Falk, Lisa, Vesterlund, Amanda Wibron, Hedman, Erik, Lindfors, Perjohan, Rück, Christian, Hursti, Timo, Andréewitch, Sergej, Jansson, Liselotte, Lindefors, Nils, Andersson, Gerhard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2010; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety-Depression; Awareness; Behavior modification; Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Cognitive behaviour therapy; Cognitive therapy; Cognitive Therapy - instrumentation; Cognitive Therapy - methods; Delivery of Health Care - methods; Desensitization, Psychologic - methods; Exposure; Female; Humans; Internet; Internet therapy; Irritable bowel syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - psychology; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - therapy; Male; Medical sciences; MEDICIN; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; MEDICINE; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Mindfulness; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of life; SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP; Self-help; Severity of Illness Index; SOCIAL SCIENCES; Telemedicine - instrumentation; Telemedicine - methods; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods; Treatment Outcome; Treatments; Young Adult; Self-help; GI; GSA; IBS-QOL; Internet therapy; MADRS-S; Exposure; Mindfulness; VSI; Human; Cognitive therapy; Treatment efficiency; Controlled therapeutic trial; Quality of life; Symptomatology; Treatment; Selfcare; Follow up study; Irritable bowel syndrome; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Behavior therapy; Internet; Computer aid
• ISSN: 0005-7967; 1873-622X; 1873-622X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2010.03.003

The aim of this study was to investigate if cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) based on exposure and mindfulness exercises delivered via the Internet would be effective in treating participants with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Participants were recruited through self-referral. Eighty-six participants were included in the study and randomized to treatment or control condition (an online discussion forum). One participant was excluded after randomization. The main outcome measure was IBS-symptom severity and secondary measures included IBS-related quality of life, GI-specific anxiety, depression and general functioning. Participants were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment and 3 month follow-up (treatment condition only). Four participants (5% of total sample) in the treatment condition did not participate in post-treatment assessment. Participants in the treatment condition reported a 42% decrease and participants in the control group reported a 12% increase in primary IBS-symptoms. Compared to the control condition, participants in the treatment group improved on all secondary outcome measures with a large between group effect size on quality of life (Cohen’s d = 1.21). We conclude that CBT-based on exposure and mindfulness delivered via the Internet can be effective in treating IBS-patients, alleviating the total burden of symptoms and increasing quality of life.