Web therapy ‘calmed irritable bowels’

England’s health watchdog already recommends face-to-face CBT for people who have IBS, despite other treatment.But researchers say many people are unable to access it. 

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common and often life-long condition that affects the bowels – it can cause stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation.

There’s no cure, but changes to diet and medicines can help control the symptoms.

The team of scientists from the University of Southampton and King’s College London, say their newly designed phone and web-based CBT requires fewer therapist hours and could be offered more widely to people who need it.

“I don’t have symptoms anymore.”

Laura Day, 31, a freelance journalist living in London, told the BBC that taking part in the web-based therapy was “the best thing she had ever done”.She remembers being “the kid with the nervous tummy” from the age of about five, and finding mornings particularly difficult.

She said she would often spend a long time on the loo, opening her bowels two or three times before she left the house and everything had to revolve around her IBS.

She used to plan emergency toilet stops on her way to work and made sure she had diarrhoea tablets with her at all times.

She told the BBC: “I was sceptical about the therapy at first and could not understand how changing my mindset could change my bowels.

“But one of the most helpful things was understanding the strong link between how you think and how your body reacts.

“Now when I have nervous moments I don’t dwell on them, I don’t worry about it being something more sinister any more and I understand what is going on.”

‘Unhelpful adaptations’

The trial involved 558 people who had long-standing IBS, with symptoms despite medication and lifestyle advice.

§  A third of people had telephone-based therapy (eight one-hour sessions speaking to a therapist, alongside their usual, standard treatment)

§  Another third were offered web-based therapy (eight modules of interactive, online CBT and five half hour-sessions with therapists over the phone)

§  The rest had standard treatment alone (such as anti-spasm medications and life style advice)

Both web and telephone therapy covered a number of topics, including detailed information on how the gut works, what IBS is, how to spot unhelpful behaviour and how to change and develop stable, healthy eating habits.

At the end of 12 months, researchers found patients who had had either therapy reported fewer symptoms, more ability to manage work and relationships and less anxiety and depression than people on standard treatment alone.

Lead researcher Dr Hazel Everitt told the BBC: “What often happens when we have chronic conditions that impact on our ability to get on and do what we want in our lives, is that we adapt and try and live our lives despite the problem and sometimes the adaptations that we make in the long term are unhelpful.

“An example might be that if you are concerned about your bowels you might be checking where the toilets are.

“Using CBT we can help people work through those behaviours and unhelpful thoughts.”

‘Cut adrift’

Alison Reid, chief executive officer of the charity the IBS Network, said she welcomed the recommendations for further care and support.

She added: “I think it is indisputable that current health provision is wholly failing those living with IBS who, after a diagnosis, often feel cut adrift.

“But a significant number of those we talk to take some time to acknowledge they have a role to play in their health and well-being and resist the suggestion that the way they think plays any part in their condition.

“And while the current system of care under the NHS is not giving people living with IBS the support they need, many of the charity’s members who are not digital natives feel marginalised by an increasing number of services going online.”

Researchers are currently training NHS therapists in England to deliver telephone-based therapy through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy programme.

And they are working with commercial companies to develop the internet-based version. They have also submitted it to the NHS for consideration.