A one year follow-up of relaxation response meditation as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome

Authors
L Keefer, E B Blanchard
Publication
Behaviour Research Therapy
40(5):541-546
Benson Technique  IBS
Abstract

Ten of thirteen original participants with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) participated in a one year follow-up study to determine whether the effects of Relaxation Response Meditation (RRM) on IBS symptom reduction were maintained over the long-term. From pre-treatment to one-year follow-up, significant reductions were noted for the symptoms of abdominal pain (p=0.017), diarrhea (p=0.045), flatulence (p=0.030), and bloating (p=0.018). When we examined changes from the original three month follow-up point to the one year follow-up, we noted significant additional reductions in pain (p=0.03) and bloating (p=0.04), which tended to be the most distressing symptoms of IBS. It appears that: (1) continued use of meditation is particularly effective in reducing the symptoms of pain and bloating; and (2) RRM is a beneficial treatment for IBS in the both short- and the long-term.

Web and Email Links
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science..., https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12038...
Related Listings
Somatization and symptom reduction through a be...
Authors
Mutsuhiro Nakao, MD, MPH, Patricia Myers, Gregory Fricchione, MD, Patricia C. Zuttermeister, MA, Arthur J. Barsky, MD, Herbert Benson, MD
Journal
Behavioral Medicine
·
Ailments, Benson Technique, Somatic Symptom Scale
The authors assessed data from 1,148 outpatients in a 10-week medical symptom reduction program to determine the effectiveness of a behavioral medicine intervention among somatizing patients. The program included instruction in the relaxation response, cognitive restructuring, nutrition, and exercise. Before and after the intervention, the patients were evaluated on the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R), the Medical Symptom Checklist, and the Stress Perception Scale. They were di […]
Fluid intelligence and brain functional organiz...
Authors
Tim Gard, Maxime Taquet, Rohan Dixit, Britta K. Holzel, Yves-Alexandre de Montoye, Narayan Brach, David H. Salat, Bradford C. Dickerson, Jeremy R. Gray, Sara W. Lazar
Journal
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
·
Meditation in General, Mindfulness, Intelligence
Numerous studies have documented the normal age-related decline of neural structure, function, and cognitive performance. Preliminary evidence suggests that meditation may reduce decline in specific cognitive domains and in brain structure. Here we extended this research by investigating the relation between age and fluid intelligence and resting state brain functional network architecture using graph theory, in middle-aged yoga and meditation practitioners, and matched controls. Flui […]
Effects of gender and marital status on somatic...
Authors
Mutsuhiro Nakao, MD, MPH, Gregory Fricchione, MD, Patricia C. Zuttermeister, MA, Patricia Myers, Arthur J. Barsky, MD, Herbert Benson, MD
Journal
Behavioral Medicine
·
Benson Technique, Medical Symptom Checklist, Symptom Checklist-90, Stress Perception Scale, Gender
To clarify the mechanisms of gender-related mind/body relationships, the authors analyzed the characteristics of 1,132 outpatients (848 women and 284 men) attending a mind/body medicine clinic. At entry in the program, the patients completed the Medical Symptom Checklist, Symptom Checklist-90 revised (SCL-90R), and Stress Perception Scale. Women reported 9 out of 12 symptoms (fatigue, insomnia, headache, back pain, joint or limb pain, palpitations, constipation, nausea, and dizziness) […]