Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026
Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis
Published on: January 5, 2017
A collaborative health care model for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome
Charles D Gerson1, Mary-Joan Gerson
1Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. cgerson@yahoo.com
Background & Aims:
There have been few reports of successful treatment of chronically symptomatic patients with irritable bowel syndrome. We performed a preliminary single center study to evaluate a new collaborative treatment model that used both gastroenterologist and psychologist working together, compared to medical treatment or psychological treatment alone. A second goal was to determine the sample size that would be necessary to definitively demonstrate efficacy of such a collaborative treatment program.
Methods:
Forty-one patients with irritable bowel syndrome, seen in a tertiary setting, were randomly assigned to the 3 treatment groups. The research design was weighted toward collaborative treatment, which consisted of 3 biweekly visits. A series of questionnaires, including a 2-week daily diary as well as measures of quality of life, anxiety, depression, and relationships, were administered before treatment, after treatment, and again 3 months later. At termination of the study, patients completed a global assessment scale.
Results:
Sixteen patients completed the collaborative program, 8 completed medical treatment directed at gastrointestinal function, and 6 completed psychological therapy. Eleven patients dropped out of the study; 2 had organic disease. Intent to treat and per protocol analyses showed that global self-assessment improved significantly at long-term follow-up in the collaborative treatment group (P<0.0002). Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation also improved significantly in the collaborative treatment group (P<0.001). Collaborative treatment was statistically superior to medical treatment alone (P<0.05). The psychological treatment group had 50% improvement in global score. There was no significant improvement in the medically treated group.
Conclusions:
We have demonstrated that short-term treatment with gastroenterologist and psychologist working together is more effective than medical treatment in relieving symptoms in patients with chronic irritable bowel syndrome. Attributes of a collaborative approach are discussed. These pilot data suggest that collaborative treatment programs should be explored in further studies, and they show the importance of dealing with both mind and body in these patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome III: Medical and Nursing Management
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:23Irritable Bowel Syndrome
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:17Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...