If you are considering a course of hypnotherapy for IBS, it is natural to wonder how long the benefits last once the sessions stop. The encouraging news is that long-term studies suggest improvements often hold for years, not weeks. Here is what the research shows, and what helps results stick.
How long does hypnotherapy for IBS last?
For many people, the benefits of gut-directed hypnotherapy appear to last for several years. In one of the largest follow-up studies, 204 patients were tracked for up to six years after treatment. Of those who responded, 81% kept their improvement over time, and most of the rest said any slip in symptoms was only slight (Gonsalkorale et al., 2003). A Swedish study of 208 patients treated outside specialist centres found that 73% of responders had improved further two to seven years later (Lindfors et al., 2012).
These figures are hopeful, but not everyone responds, and results vary from person to person.
Why do the results of gut-directed hypnotherapy last?
Unlike a tablet that only works while you take it, gut-directed hypnotherapy aims to change how the gut and brain communicate. Many people with IBS have a gut that is extra sensitive to normal sensations, and a nervous system that reacts strongly to stress. Hypnotherapy works with both, helping the body learn a calmer response that it can keep using after the course ends.
The skills also travel with you. In the Swedish study, most people who did well were still using hypnosis regularly years later.
Can IBS symptoms come back after hypnotherapy?
They can. IBS is a long-term condition that tends to fluctuate, and a stressful spell, an illness or a big change in routine can stir symptoms up again. What many people notice is that a flare feels less alarming and settles more quickly, because they now have tools to use. Returning to your recordings, or booking a short top-up session, is often enough to get back on track.
If your symptoms change in a new way, such as bleeding from the bottom, unexplained weight loss, symptoms that wake you at night, or a lasting change in bowel habit over the age of 50, please see your GP rather than assuming it is your IBS.
Does hypnotherapy last as long as the low FODMAP diet?
A randomised trial compared gut-directed hypnotherapy with the low FODMAP diet and found both improved gut symptoms by a similar amount. Six months on, 74% of the hypnotherapy group had kept their improvement, compared with 82% of the diet group, and only hypnotherapy led to a significant drop in anxiety (Peters et al., 2016). Hypnotherapy also does not ask you to restrict foods long term, which can matter if eating out and socialising in London is part of your life.
How can I make the benefits of IBS hypnotherapy last?
A typical course of IBS hypnotherapy in London is 6 to 8 sessions, with recordings to practise at home in between. A few habits help results hold. Keep listening to your recordings, even briefly, once symptoms have settled. Learn your early warning signs, such as pressure building at work or a busy commute, and use your techniques before a flare takes hold. And be kind to yourself if a difficult week comes along. It is part of living with IBS, not a sign the work has failed.
Key Takeaways
- Long-term studies suggest the benefits of gut-directed hypnotherapy for IBS often last for years.
- In one study, 81% of people who responded kept their improvement for up to six years.
- Results tend to last because hypnotherapy changes how the gut and brain respond, and the skills stay with you.
- Flares can still happen, but recordings or a top-up session usually help you get back on track.
- New or red-flag symptoms should always be checked by your GP.
If you would like to explore whether hypnotherapy could bring lasting relief for your IBS, Antonios would be glad to talk it through with you. Sessions are available in person at Angel, London, and online hypnotherapy means you can join from wherever you are. Book a free consultation to find out more.
References
- [1] Gonsalkorale WM, Miller V, Afzal A, Whorwell PJ, 2003. Long term benefits of hypnotherapy for irritable bowel syndrome. Gut, 52(11), 1623-1629. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14570733/
- [2] Lindfors P, Unge P, Nyhlin H, Ljótsson B, Björnsson ES, Abrahamsson H, Simrén M, 2012. Long-term effects of hypnotherapy in patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 47(4), 414-420. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22339617/
- [3] Peters SL, Yao CK, Philpott H, Yelland GW, Muir JG, Gibson PR, 2016. Randomised clinical trial: the efficacy of gut-directed hypnotherapy is similar to that of the low FODMAP diet for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 44(5), 447-459. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27397586/
