Hypnotherapy for IBS abdominal pain: evidence review

Abdominal pain is a defining IBS feature and a primary or co-primary outcome in many GDH trials. The pain signal is a main reason the hub is Grade A.

Key evidence

The Flik 2014 meta-analysis reported a benefit for abdominal pain among other global effects. Later RCTs and the Gut psychological-therapies review keep pain inside the broader IBS outcome set.

Pain here means IBS visceral pain after medical assessment, not an undiagnosed acute abdomen. Red flags still come first.

Limitations

Cannot blind. Placebo-level expectancy is a live alternative explanation, especially versus waitlist.

What we don't know yet

Which IBS pain phenotype (hypersensitivity versus motility-dominant) predicts response is not settled.

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