Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa Departamento de Psicologia e Sociologia IIPUAL - CIP Centro de Investigação em Psicologia Rua de Santa Marta, 47 - 3º #314 1169-023 Lisboa Portugal Fax +351 213 533 702
Abstract: Therapy of irritable bowel syndrome is disappointing. Since irritable gut (IG) accounts for 20-40% of all consultations, an investigation was carried out in IG patients treated by relaxation and its effect on the number of consultations, attacks of pain, and psychological profile (MMPI) after a period of time. A control group (C) received conventional treatment. The relaxation group (R) was treated simultaneously for a 6-month period. The number of consultations in the C patients was 53 before and 41 after conventional treatment. Consultations in the R group fell from 74 before to 6 after relaxation therapy. Two-monthly attacks of pain in the R group fell to zero, while there was no change in the C group on this score. The MMPI changes are original and worth stressing. The improvement immediately, and 40 months, after the relaxation course was significant.
