Research
Condition evidence
Graded evidence on specific conditions. Treatment and booking live on the clinic condition pages.
- Does hypnotherapy work for IBS? Meta-analytic evidenceStrong evidenceGut-directed hypnotherapy has Grade A evidence for IBS: consistent benefit across independent trial groups, pooled analyses, and follow-up data. Blinding is impossible.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS-C: evidence reviewMixed / preliminaryGDH evidence is thinner for constipation-predominant IBS than for the mixed/diarrhoea-heavy trial samples.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS-D: evidence reviewModerate evidenceGDH trials include many people with diarrhoea-predominant IBS. Global improvement is clearer than a dedicated IBS-D meta-analysis.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS-M: evidence reviewModerate evidenceMixed IBS is well represented in GDH trials as part of the global-symptom evidence. Dedicated IBS-M endpoints are scarce.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS: frequently asked questionsMethods / mechanismShort answers on GDH for IBS: evidence, session protocols versus clinic care, red flags, diet, and apps. Not a booking form.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS: the evidenceStrong evidenceGut-directed hypnotherapy is one of the best-evidenced non-drug treatments for IBS. Independent trials over four decades show that roughly 50–70% of patients get clinically meaningful symptom relief, often lasting 6–12 months after treatment.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy long-term results: follow-up evidenceModerate evidenceGDH trials report benefit at 12 months. Longer Manchester follow-up is encouraging but observational. Data beyond five years are thin.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy sessions: week-by-week Manchester protocolMethods / mechanismThe Manchester-model trials used a 7–12 session gut-focused protocol plus daily home practice. This page describes that research protocol.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Gut-directed hypnotherapy versus low-FODMAP: head-to-head evidenceModerate evidenceHead-to-head work suggests GDH and a low-FODMAP diet can produce comparable IBS improvement. Neither dominates for everyone.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- How gut-directed hypnotherapy works: mechanismsMethods / mechanismGDH is a protocolised gut–brain intervention. Proposed mechanisms include reduced visceral hypersensitivity, autonomic rebalancing, and less catastrophic attention to gut sensation.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Hypnotherapy for IBS abdominal pain: evidence reviewStrong evidenceAbdominal pain is one of the clearer GDH signals in IBS trials and in the Flik 2014 pain analysis.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Hypnotherapy for IBS bloating: evidence reviewModerate evidenceGDH often improves bloating as part of global IBS scores. Dedicated bloating-primary trials are uncommon.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- IBS red flags: see a doctor firstMethods / mechanismGut-directed hypnotherapy is for diagnosed or likely IBS after medical assessment. Unexplained weight loss, bleeding, anaemia, and related features need a doctor first.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- NICE IBS guidance and hypnotherapy (CG61)Moderate evidenceNICE CG61 is the IBS guideline that discusses psychological treatments including hypnotherapy. NG116 is not an IBS guideline.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Online and app-delivered gut-directed hypnotherapy: evidence and gapsMixed / preliminaryApp and online GDH programmes have encouraging trials. They are not yet the same evidence base as therapist-led 7–12 session courses.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- The gut–brain axis in IBS: why hypnotherapy targets this pathwayMethods / mechanismIBS is a disorder of gut–brain interaction. That is why a gut-focused psychological therapy is a rational treatment target, not because IBS is “all in the head.”Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- What we don't know about gut-directed hypnotherapyModerate evidenceBlinding, dose, digital equivalence, subtype splits, and Australian cost-effectiveness remain open even with Grade A GDH evidence.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Whorwell 1984: landmark gut-hypnosis RCT for refractory IBSModerate evidenceWhorwell, Prior and Faragher (1984) randomised refractory IBS to gut-focused hypnosis versus psychotherapy and reported large symptom gains. It is the founding RCT, not the whole evidence base.Last reviewed 27 August 2026
- Your first gut-directed hypnotherapy session: protocol and assessmentMethods / mechanismWhat published GDH protocols do in session one: consent, symptom measures, induction, and homework. Magazine prep lives on the articles site.Last reviewed 27 August 2026