Health technology assessment : HTA
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Health Technol Assess · Jun 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialCognitive behavioural therapy in addition to antispasmodic therapy for irritable bowel syndrome in primary care: randomised controlled trial.
To determine whether cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in addition to antispasmodic treatment offers a cost-effective benefit to primary care patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to identify predictors of outcome. ⋯ Specially trained practice nurses can provide effective CBT to primary care patients with a clinical diagnosis of IBS, which although effective does not reduce service or social costs. Using a variety of measures the beneficial therapeutic effects of the addition of CBT to antispasmodic therapy persist for up to 6 months. Future research might include studies of the long-term follow-up of IBS patients treated with CBT, cost-benefit analyses comparing CBT with other therapeutic approaches to IBS, and evaluating means of training both non-specialist health professionals and GPs to deliver CBT.