Delivery Methods of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder and negatively impacts individuals' quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy appears effective for reducing symptoms in many irritable bowel syndrome patients. However, the optimal methods to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy and the effective treatment dosage for patients with IBS remain unclear. This article aims to provide an update on cognitive behavioral therapy research in IBS, particularly considering the dose of treatment, route of delivery (in-person vs. web- and telephone-based delivery), and outcome measures. A systematic literature review was conducted using databases of PubMed, CINAHL Complete, and Web of Science from 2008 through 2021. Twelve studies reporting randomized clinical trials comparing cognitive behavioral therapy delivered with in-person, telephone, and web for the management of IBS symptoms among adults with irritable bowel syndrome were found. The dose of treatment varied from 4 to 10 sessions. Six different scales measured various outcomes. No severe adverse reactions to cognitive behavioral therapy were reported. Cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for IBS symptoms regardless of the dose and the route of treatment. However, it is difficult to compare the effectiveness of these randomized clinical trials due to the various cognitive behavioral therapy protocols, combined routes of therapy delivery, and different outcome measures used.