Improving access to gut‐directed hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome in the digital therapeutics' era: Are mobile applications a “smart” solution?

• Published in: Neurogastroenterology and motility 2023-04, Vol.35 (4), p.e14554-n/a
• Main Authors: Hasan, Syed S., Ballou, Sarah, Keefer, Laurie, Vasant, Dipesh H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brain; digital health; Humans; Hypnosis; hypnotherapy; Intestine; Irritable bowel syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - therapy; Mobile Applications; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 1350-1925; 1365-2982
• DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14554

Gut‐directed hypnotherapy (GDH) is a highly effective brain‐gut behavioral therapy which is recommended in international guidelines for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There is increasing recognition of the value of GDH as part of integrated care alongside medical and dietary approaches. This has led to recent innovations to widen access to GDH to meet the increasing demand. Recent advances include streamlined courses of individualized GDH, group therapy, and remote delivery. In this issue of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Peters et al. retrospectively report outcomes of smartphone app‐delivered GDH in a population with self‐reported IBS. While adherence was low, those that completed smart phone‐delivered GDH‐achieved symptom benefit. This mini‐review summarizes the current evidence‐base for available modalities of GDH and discusses the current and future utility and development of mobile health applications in the digital therapeutics' era. Self‐directed gut‐directed hypnotherapy skills training via mobile applications are an innovative approach to improving access and has therapeutic potential for IBS. Future studies should implement strategies to improve adherence including better patient selection, clinician supervision, and optimize the length and duration of treatment.