According to a recent study published in the Archives of Medical Science, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in conjunction with medical treatment is more effective for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) than medical treatment alone. Participants in the current study (50 patients diagnosed with IBS) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) an experimental group that received a combination of CBT and medical treatment, and (2) a control group that received only medical treatment. Results indicate that patients who received CBT in conjunction with medical treatment fared better (80% cured) than those who received medical treatment alone. These findings suggest that CBT reduces the disability caused by IBS and that CBT in conjunction with medical treatment should be utilized in the treatment of IBS.
Mahvi-Shirazi M, Fathi-Ashtiani A, Rasoolzade-Tabatabaei SK, Amini M., (2012). Irritable bowel syndrome treatment: cognitive behavioral therapy versus medical treatment. Archives of Medical Science. 29 (1): 123-129.