ERIC Number: EJ684791
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-Dec
Pages: 13
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-006X
EISSN: N/A
Psychological Treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Lackner, Jeffrey M.; Mesmer, Christina; Morley, Stephen; Dowzer, Clare; Hamilton, Simon
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v72 n6 p1100-1113 Dec 2004
This study conducted a systematic review to assess the quality of existing literature on psychological treatments for irritable bowel syndrome and to quantify the evidence for their efficacy. Three independent reviewers (2 from England, 1 from the United States) coded the quality of 32 studies, 17 of which provided data suitable for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of efficacy data (50% reduction of symptoms) gave an odds ratio of 12 (95% confidence interval = 5.56-25.96) and a number needed to treat of 2. Psychological treatments are, as a class of interventions, effective in reducing symptoms compared with a pooled group of control conditions. Questions regarding the relative superiority of specific psychological treatments and influence of active versus nonspecific treatment effects remain unanswered.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Psychology, Meta Analysis, Psychosomatic Disorders, Physical Health, Intervention, Outcomes of Treatment, Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A