Cited by 135Gastrointestinal motility and disordersPsychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsInfant Health and Development

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 67 of the 67 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 17 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Short-term and Long-term Efficacy of Psychological Therapies for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Open access
Laird, Kelsey T., Tanner-Smith, Emily E., Russell, Alexandra C., Hollon, Steve D., Walker, Lynn S.·2016·Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Several meta-analyses have demonstrated the efficacy of psychological therapies for reducing gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, no meta-analysis has investigated the duration of these effects. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the immediate, short-term, and long-term efficacy of psychotherapy for reducing GI symptoms in adults with IBS. METHODS: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Science Direct, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses through August 15, 2015 for randomized controlled trials that compared psychological therapy with an active or non-active comparison (control) condition for treatment of GI symptoms in adults with IBS. RESULTS: Forty-one trials were included in our meta-analysis, comprising data from 2290 individuals (1183 assigned to psychotherapy and 1107 assigned to a control condition). Compared with a mixed group of control conditions, psychological therapies had a medium effect on GI symptom severity (d¯ = 0.69) immediately after treatment. On average, individuals who received psychotherapy had a greater reduction in GI symptoms after treatment than 75% of individuals assigned to a control condition. After short-term follow-up periods (1-6 months after treatment) and long-term follow-up periods (6-12 months after treatment), this effect remained significant and medium in magnitude (d¯ = 0.76 and d¯ = 0.73, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological therapies reduce GI symptoms in adults with IBS. These effects remained significant and medium in magnitude after short-term and long-term follow-up periods.

Overview

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TL;DR

This systematic review and meta-analysis found that psychological therapies produce a medium-sized reduction in GI symptoms in adults with IBS immediately after treatment, and these effects remain significant and medium-sized at short-term (1–6 months) and long-term (6–12 months) follow-up. The analysis included 41 RCTs and 2290 participants.

Key findings

  • Across 41 trials (1183 psychotherapy, 1107 control), psychological therapies reduced GI symptom severity immediately after treatment versus mixed controls: d=0.69, P<.001, 95% CI 0.52–0.86; the average psychotherapy participant improved more than 75% of controls.
  • Effects remained medium-sized at short-term follow-up (14 trials; d=0.76, P<.001, 95% CI 0.54–0.97) and long-term follow-up (10 trials; d=0.73, P<.001, 95% CI 0.43–1.03). In the 5 trials with all three intervals, effects were d=0.54 immediately, d=0.76 short-term, and d=0.73 long-term.
  • No significant moderator effects were found for therapeutic modality (cognitive d=0.73, hypnosis d=0.78, relaxation d=0.72; Q=0.08, P=.960), delivery method (online vs in-person; Q=1.98, P=.160), format (group vs individual; Q=0.19, P=.666), dose, control type (active vs non-active; Q=0.01, P=.929), or publication date. Country differed: Sweden d=1.14 vs US d=0.54 and UK d=0.32.
  • Attrition risk of bias moderated effects: high-risk studies showed d=−0.03 (P=.875), versus unclear d=0.83 and low d=0.73 (Q=13.15, P=.001). No significant publication bias was detected at immediate, short-term, or long-term follow-up by Egger and rank correlation tests.

Methods

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis conducted per PRISMA with an a priori protocol. Searched PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses through August 15, 2015 for RCTs comparing psychological therapy with active or non-active control for GI symptoms in adults with IBS.
  • Included 41 unique trials comprising 2290 individuals (1183 psychotherapy, 1107 control). Eligible trials assessed continuous GI symptom outcomes, were written in English, and excluded quasi-randomized allocation, support-group-only interventions, and dichotomous outcomes.
  • Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were computed and pooled with random-effects weights using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v3.3.070. Heterogeneity was assessed with Q, τ², and I²; risk of bias used the Cochrane tool; pre-specified moderator analyses examined therapy type, delivery, format, dose, control type, country, and publication date.

Limitations

  • Stated: substantial between-trial variability in measures, inclusion criteria, and control conditions; effects may vary by individual patient characteristics, but this was impossible to assess because of inconsistent reporting and limited diversity (participants were mostly female and mostly white in trials reporting these data).
  • Stated: no trial was rated low risk of bias in every domain; after excluding blinding, only 9 trials were low risk in all remaining domains. Few studies collected short-term or long-term follow-up data, and only 3 online therapy trials were included.
  • Evident: heterogeneity was substantial (I²=70.56 immediate, 58.63 short-term, 74.86 long-term), and high attrition-bias studies showed no significant effect, which may limit confidence in pooled estimates.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.cgh.2015.11.020

Cites

67 of 67 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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Verification

Claims the paper makes

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Show all 29 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 12
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 14
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
23 of 23
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No meta-analysis has investigated the duration of the effects of psychological therapies on GI symptoms in IBS.

    “However, no meta-analysis has investigated the duration of these effects.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Dichotomous outcome measures measure a different underlying construct than continuous measures.

    “Dichotomous outcome measures were ineligible because these were assumed to measure a different underlying construct than continuous measures.”
2 of 2

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Self-check

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  • Eligibility was not independently assessed by two authors

    Major

    The discussion says two authors independently assessed eligibility, but the methods say the first author assessed articles and consulted others only in unclear cases.

  • Svedlund's attrition rating conflicts with the stated rule

    Minor

    The stated rule requires ITT data for a low attrition-risk rating, but Table 2 marks Svedlund as not providing ITT data and nevertheless rates attrition risk low.

  • Data extraction was not independently performed by two authors

    Minor

    The discussion describes independent extraction by two authors. The methods instead describe one author entering effect-size data for another to check, while a single reviewer coded all other variables.

3 of 3

Citations

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Siegel KM. The effects of emotional disclosure on physical symptoms, healthcare utilization, and psychosocial adjustment in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. PhD dissertation. Alliant International University, San Diego, CA, 2003.
  2. Ljotsson, 2011, Acceptability, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of internet-based exposure treatment for irritable bowel syndrome in a clinical sample: a randomized controlled trial, BMC Gastroenterol, 11, 110, 10.1186/1471-230x-11-110 · DOI · Paper page

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Items 101–135 of 135

Metadata

Authors
Laird, K. T., Tanner-Smith, E. E., Russell, A. C., Hollon, S. D., & Walker, L. S.
Affiliations
Vanderbilt University (US)
Corresponding author
Laird, Kelsey T.
Venue
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-07
Volume
14
Issue
7
Pages
937-947.e4
ISSN
1542-3565 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2215411395
Cited by
135
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 10
FWCI
1.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Health and Development
Keywords
irritable bowel syndrome, psychotherapy, gastrointestinal symptoms, symptom severity, long-term efficacy, short-term follow-up
MeSH terms
Humans, Psychotherapy, Time, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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