Irritable Bowel Syndrome Self-Hypnosis at Home

The story of how Michael Mahoney developed the IBS Audio Program 100 and thus came to specialize in IBS hypnotherapy, is an interesting one. In 1991 he saw his first IBS patients, a condition he had at that time heard of but was not familiar with. He was quite distressed that his patients were being offered no help from the medical profession to alleviate their wide range of symptoms.

They had in fact been termed "heart-sinks" by their gastroenterologists. Why? Because the doctors' hearts would sink whenever these patients returned for yet another appointment with no improvement in their condition.

Mahoney spent nearly two years researching Irritable Bowel Syndrome and developed a personal passion for helping the patients he was seeing, as they were truly suffering (and their loved ones were suffering indirectly as well).

He wrote specific IBS hypnotherapy processes for their treatment, incorporating ongoing feedback from the patients, telling them up-front that this was a new area of practice for him and that he honestly had no idea what they could expect in terms of results. He did not charge any of the patients, and funded the initial research study of their treatment and follow-ups out of his own pocket. In spite of the fact that this was a novice attempt at IBS hypnotherapy, the success rate for his first round of patients was 80%.[1]

Mahoney had by now realized that IBS hypnotherapy was the area in which he wanted to specialize. He continued to research the disorder, gaining an in-depth understanding of the physical condition and its multiple symptoms. He also realized the importance of the possible psychological effects of these symptoms, which could result in reduced self-confidence and self-esteem, increased stress and anxiety levels, and sometimes depression. His IBS-specific hypnotherapy processes and delivery methods were continuously refined to incorporate further patient feedback, with the constant goal of improving success rates.

After several years of exclusive IBS practice, the dramatic reduction in symptom severity and frequency of Mahoney's patients became well-known locally, and he began receiving numerous referrals from gastroenterologists as well as family physicians. In 1996 he was asked to participate in a medical research study of IBS hypnotherapy funded by the UK National Health Service through a gastroenterology practice at his Local Primary Care Medical Centre, to be monitored and audited by the local Health Authority Audit Commission. For this project, 20 patients were screened by the gastroenterologists and presented various symptoms of IBS. All patients were long-term sufferers, had undergone all medical diagnostic tests, and had taken prescription medications without attaining significant relief from their symptoms. Each patient underwent Mahoney's introductory and five subsequent hypnotherapy sessions. The patients were split into groups, and the hypnotherapy sessions for all groups were staggered over 12 months. At the end of the project, feedback sheets from the patients indicated an overall reduction of 80% in symptom severity and frequency of presentation.

The success of this independent research project, to Mahoney's delight, confirmed his informal findings from earlier patient treatments in private practice. However, he now had additional patient feedback to work with, and this allowed him to further refine various aspects of the hypnotherapy delivery methods and processes.

By this point, Mahoney was receiving referrals from doctors, gastroenterologists, and other medical professionals for patients who lived over 100 miles away. While it was gratifying to have his work recognized, it was also apparent that it was not practical for people to have to travel so far to find a hypnotherapist who understood IBS and could address the condition. At this time, early 1997, Mahoney set up the UK Register of IBS Therapists and began delivering structured, comprehensive IBS-specific workshops to formally trained and experienced hypnotherapists. The IBS Register is non-profit organization that continues to be administered by Mahoney, and currently lists over 80 members in England and Ireland.

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[1] This success rate was based on reduction of symptom severity, and the frequency of symptom presentation (how often symptoms occur). Pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and other symptoms were quantified by the patients and individually measured, as was the perceived improvement in overall quality of life. Patients were asked to mark as a percentage the improvement they felt during the program period, immediately after the program had finished, and to commit to three follow up periods of assessment at 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months after therapy ended. The treatment group included 11 females and 4 males; average age 34.

For females: Average frequency of symptom presentation: 3.4 times daily. Average length of time IBS symptoms present: 8.63 years Average length of time on medications: 5.5 years. Average reduction in medications over group: 96%.

For males: Average frequency of symptom presentation: 2.5 times daily. Average length of time IBS symptoms present: 4.75 years. Average length of time on medications: 3.8 years. Average reduction in medications: 94%. (1991 patient trials, per Michael Mahoney interviews and private documents, February-April 2001).