THE EFFECT OF NEUROFEEDBACK IN DECREASING ANXIETY AND SYMPTOM SEVERITY OF PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder that
can be stimulated and intensified by psychological factors such as anxiety. The present research
aimed at determining the effect of neurofeedback as a psychological treatment technique in
decreasing anxiety and symptom severity of patients with IBS.
Materials & Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study (pretest-posttest, with
control group). Statistical population of the present research included all women who attended
health centers in Tehran due to gastrointestinal disorders and were diagnosed by
gastroenterologist as having IBS based on Rome III criteria. Thirty women with IBS attending a
gastroenterology clinic were selected by way of convenience sampling method and were put
randomly into two experimental and control groups (each 15). The experimental group underwent
neurofeedback treatment in 20 sessions of 45 minutes, 2 days each week, and the control group
remained in the waiting list. Both groups were examined by Speilberger State–Trait Anxiety
Inventory (STAI) and IBS Severity Index (IBSSI), and their brain wave baselines were registered.
The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Results: Findings showed that neurofeedback treatment has significantly resulted in a decrease in
symptom severity of patients with IBS (p<0/01). Also, neurofeedback has been influential in
decreasing state anxiety (p<0/01) and trait anxiety (p<0/05) and increasing Alpha brain waves
amplitude (p<0/01).
Conclusion: Results showed that neurofeedback is influential in improving anxiety and symptom
severity of IBS and it is a proper treatment method for IBS patients with very limited side effect
and long-term treatment effect