12/12/2025
🧠 Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy Matches Low-FODMAP Diet for IBS
A randomized controlled trial out of Australia comparing gut-directed hypnotherapy to the low-FODMAP diet found that both treatments produced similar, clinically meaningful improvements in IBS symptoms.
Primary Outcomes (GI Symptoms)
• Response rates:
• Hypnotherapy: ~70–72% responders
• Low-FODMAP diet: ~72%
• Combined therapy: ~74%
Symptom reduction: Both groups showed LARGE effect sizes for global IBS symptom severity, indicating substantial improvement in pain, bloating, and overall digestive symptoms.
Secondary Outcomes (Anxiety, Depression)
Hypnotherapy demonstrated significant psychological improvements that were not seen in the diet group:
• Trait Anxiety:
• 4-point reduction (moderate effect size)
• Low-FODMAP: no significant change
• Trait Depression:
• 3-point reduction (small–moderate effect)
• Low-FODMAP: no significant change
These findings indicate that while both approaches effectively reduce IBS symptoms, hypnotherapy provides additional benefits by improving anxiety, mood, and the brain–gut axis, factors that often play a key role in IBS persistence. (study in comments)
Yours in health, Dr. Chris Caffery URL: www.drcafferyintegrativehealth.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCaffery
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