Hypnotherapy for Abdominal Pain in Children

Due to the high prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional abdominal pain (FAP) in children, a recent study set out to determine if hypnotherapy, more commonly referred to as hypnosis, is effective as a treatment for kids who suffer from these conditions.

The Study

Researchers enrolled 53 children, ages 8 to 18, in the study and split them into two treatment groups. The first group received standard medical care and 6 weeks of supportive therapy. The second group received 6 sessions of hypnotherapy over a 3-month period. Weekly pain diaries were kept during the treatment period and again at a 6-month and one-year follow-up. The diaries reflected pain frequency, pain intensity and other associated symptoms.

The Results

The results were quite promising. Both groups showed a decrease in pain scores one year after treatment ended, with a significantly greater effect seen in the children who received hypnotherapy. Specifically, pain intensity scores decreased in the hypnotherapy group from 13.5 to 1.3, while scores in the standard medical care group decreased from 14.1 to 8.0. Pain frequency decreased from 13.5 to 1.1 in the hypnotherapy group, as compared to 14.4 to 9.3 in the children who received standard medical care.

The researchers concluded that 85% of the children who received hypnotherapy had a successful treatment outcome; only 25% of the group who received standard care experienced this result. Clearly, it has been shown in this study that hypnotherapy is an extremely helpful treatment option for children who experience chronic abdominal pain from either IBS or FAP.

Further Reading:

• Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Abdominal Pain in Children
• Acute Abdominal Pain and Constipation in Children: A Study

_{Source:
Hypnotherapy for Children With Functional Abdominal Pain or Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2007) Vlieger, A.M., et.al. Gastroenterology 133:1430-1436.}