Aspects of the non-pharmacological treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

Table 1 Overview of different non-pharmacological treatments for IBS patients

Ref/year	Treatment modalities
Stress management
[66]/1987	PMR, thermal biofeedback, education,
	training in stress coping strategies, home practice, individual treatment
[67]/1991	Relaxation exercises (PMR), stress theory, individual treatment
Relaxation
[68]/1993	PMR, home practice, individual treatment
[77]/2007	PMR, home practice (audio tape), small group treatment
Meditation
[71]/2001	Relaxation response meditation, homework, individual treatment
Cognitive behaviour therapy
[69]/2000	Cognitive education, PMR, isometric relaxation, home practice (audio tape), individual treatment
[70]/2000	Cognitive education, PMR, training assertiveness and coping strategies, individual treatment
[73]/2003	Biopsychosocial IBS theory, stress theory, homework, group treatment
[75]/2006	Psychoeducational theory, IBS theory, stress coping, homework diary, group treatment
Functional relaxation
[79]/2010	For explanation se body text, small group
Mindfulness
[80]/2011	Mindfulness stress reduction program specialized to IBS, i.e., mindfulness training + cognitive behaviour theory, group treatment
[82]/2013	Mindfulness stress reduction with cognitive therapy program better than unspecified mindfulness alone, group treatment
Hypnotherapy
[64]/1984, [65]/1987, [74]/2005	Hypnosis and PMR, audiotape daily, individual treatment
[72]/2002	Hypnosis and PMR, audiotape daily, individual treatment
[76]/2006	Guided imagery, PMR, individual treatment
[81]/2012	Hypnosis and PMR, audiotape daily, individual treatment
Body awareness therapy
[18]/2002	Body awareness training, psychosomatic theory, IBS theory, group treatment
[22]/2007	Body awareness training, psychosomatic theory, IBS theory, group treatment

PMR: Progressive muscle relaxation; IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome.