In the pages of the April issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, Swedish researchers have published the results of a study showing that in patients with recurrent irritable bowel syndrome, hypnosis reduces postprandial colonic hypersensitivity.

The randomised trial, conducted on a group of 28 patients with treatment-resistant irritable bowel syndrome. Subjects were subjected to (1) hypnotherapy (1 hour per week; n=14) or (2) supportive therapy (control group; n=14) for 12 weeks.