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
IBS  Benson Technique
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
Topographic EEG mapping of the relaxation response
Authors
Gregg D. Jacobs, Herbert Benson, Richard Friedman
Journal
Biofeedback and Self-regulation
·
Neurology, EEG, Benson Technique
The purpose of this study was to assess the central nervous system effects of the relaxation response (RR) in novice subjects using a controlled, within- subjects design and topographic EEG mapping as the dependent measure. Twenty subjects listened to a RR and control audiotape presented in a counterbalanced order while EEG was recorded from 14 scalp locations. The RR condition produced greater (p < .0164) reductions in frontal EEG beta activity relative to the control condition. N […]
A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state
Authors
Robert K Wallace, Herbert Benson, Archie F Wilsom
Journal
American Journal of Physiology
·
Physiology
Mental states can markedly alter physiologic function. Hypermetabolic physiologic states, with an increased oxygen consumption, accompany anticipated stressful situations. Hypometabolic physiologic changes, other than those occurring during sleep and hibernation, are more difficult to produce. The present investigation describes hypometabolic and other physiologic correlates of a specific technique of meditation know as "transcendental meditation". Thirty-six subjects were studied, ea […]
Depression and Education as Predicting Factors ...
Authors
Mutsuhiro Nakao, MD, MPH, Gregory Fricchione, MD, Patricia Myers, Patricia C. Zuttermeister, MA, Arthur J. Barsky, MD, Herbert Benson, MD
Journal
Behavioral Medicine
·
Benson Technique, Psychology, Depression
The authors compared characteristics of 1,012 outpatients completing a 10-week behavioral medicine intervention with 300 outpatients who dropped out. They administered the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R) before and after the program. Patients who completed the treatment, compared with dropouts, tended to be more highly educated, married, and gainfully employed. Their pretreatment scores on the SCL-90R were significantly lower than those of the dropouts on somatization, depressi […]