Psychological Therapies in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a poorly understood disease with few effective treatments. Psychosocial factors are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of IBS. Objective. To evaluate the evidence for psychological therapies in IBS treatment. Methods. We searched six medical data...

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Main Authors: Osama Altayar, Varun Sharma, Larry J. Prokop, Amit Sood, Mohammad Hassan Murad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Gastroenterology Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/549308
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author Osama Altayar
Varun Sharma
Larry J. Prokop
Amit Sood
Mohammad Hassan Murad
author_facet Osama Altayar
Varun Sharma
Larry J. Prokop
Amit Sood
Mohammad Hassan Murad
author_sort Osama Altayar
collection DOAJ
description Background. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a poorly understood disease with few effective treatments. Psychosocial factors are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of IBS. Objective. To evaluate the evidence for psychological therapies in IBS treatment. Methods. We searched six medical databases through February 6, 2014, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological therapies for the treatment of IBS. Two independent reviewers identified the RCTs, extracted the data, and assessed trial quality. We used the random-effect model to pool standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) across trials. Results. 15 RCTs that mostly evaluated cognitive behavioral therapy were included. Psychological therapies were associated with improvement in IBS symptoms severity scales (SMD −0.618; 95% CI: −0.853 to −0.383), IBS-Quality of Life (SMD 0.604; 95% CI: 0.440 to 0.768), and abdominal pain (SMD −0.282; 95% CI: −0.562 to −0.001). No statistically significant effect was observed on diarrhea or constipation. Limitations. The trials were at increased risk of bias and the overall sample size was small leading to imprecision. Conclusion. Psychological therapies may improve the quality of life and symptom severity in IBS. The effect size noted is moderate to large and is clinically meaningful.
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spelling doaj-art-dcb92879c67942be9d85e79e2c05b1602025-02-03T06:05:56ZengWileyGastroenterology Research and Practice1687-61211687-630X2015-01-01201510.1155/2015/549308549308Psychological Therapies in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsOsama Altayar0Varun Sharma1Larry J. Prokop2Amit Sood3Mohammad Hassan Murad4Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital-Western Pennsylvania Hospital Medical Education Consortium, Pittsburgh, PA, USADivision of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USACenter for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USADivision of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USACenter for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USABackground. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a poorly understood disease with few effective treatments. Psychosocial factors are believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of IBS. Objective. To evaluate the evidence for psychological therapies in IBS treatment. Methods. We searched six medical databases through February 6, 2014, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychological therapies for the treatment of IBS. Two independent reviewers identified the RCTs, extracted the data, and assessed trial quality. We used the random-effect model to pool standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) across trials. Results. 15 RCTs that mostly evaluated cognitive behavioral therapy were included. Psychological therapies were associated with improvement in IBS symptoms severity scales (SMD −0.618; 95% CI: −0.853 to −0.383), IBS-Quality of Life (SMD 0.604; 95% CI: 0.440 to 0.768), and abdominal pain (SMD −0.282; 95% CI: −0.562 to −0.001). No statistically significant effect was observed on diarrhea or constipation. Limitations. The trials were at increased risk of bias and the overall sample size was small leading to imprecision. Conclusion. Psychological therapies may improve the quality of life and symptom severity in IBS. The effect size noted is moderate to large and is clinically meaningful.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/549308
spellingShingle Osama Altayar
Varun Sharma
Larry J. Prokop
Amit Sood
Mohammad Hassan Murad
Psychological Therapies in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Gastroenterology Research and Practice
title Psychological Therapies in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_full Psychological Therapies in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_fullStr Psychological Therapies in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_full_unstemmed Psychological Therapies in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_short Psychological Therapies in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
title_sort psychological therapies in patients with irritable bowel syndrome a systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled trials
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/549308
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