Functional Dyspepsia Hypnosis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a hypnotherapy treatment program for functional dyspepsia that can be self-administered using on-line audio recordings. This is a non-randomized study. All patients will receive 7 sessions of hypnotherapy treatment administered over a 12-week period.

The primary objective of the study is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the self-administered hypnotherapy program. The secondary objective is to evaluate the effect of the treatment on participant reported symptom severity, quality of life, anxiety and depression.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a very common health problem characterized by epigastric pain and/or postprandial fullness with no evidence of structural disease to explain the symptoms. There are few effective treatment options for FD, with medications having limited efficacy for the condition.

The goal of the current study is to test a 7-session hypnotherapy treatment specifically targeting symptoms of functional dyspepsia. The intervention will be provided via the Internet with pre-recorded audio files. In this trial, 23 adults diagnosed with functional dyspepsia in accordance with the Rome IV criteria will be included. Patients will meet with a licensed health psychologist for an initial study visit to determine their eligibility for hypnotherapy treatment. Following this screening visit, patients will receive an email with information for accessing the password-protected online platform where they will complete pre-treatment assessment forms and access treatment materials. Participants will complete baseline questionnaire data prior to beginning the hypnotherapy sessions and follow-up questionnaires at mid-treatment (6 weeks), post-treatment (12 weeks) and 3 months post-treatment. Participants will complete a new hypnotherapy session every 2 weeks over the course of 3 months and utilize a shorter, practice session 5 times per week.

The primary aim of the study is to assess feasibility and acceptability of the online treatment program by assessing the percentage of patients who log in to the web interface, utilize the materials sufficiently, complete the 12 week program, and report at least average satisfaction with the treatment. The secondary aim is to determine treatment effectiveness by measuring changes in pre- to post- treatment scores on a self-report functional dyspepsia symptom severity index (Patient Assessment of Upper Gastrointestinal Symptom Severity Index; PAGI-SYM). Additional endpoints include changes in pre- to post- treatment scores on a measure of disease-specific quality of life and psychological indices.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of functional dyspepsia by a gastroenterologist
2. Meeting ROME IV diagnostic criteria for functional dyspepsia
3. At least 18 yrs of age (no upper age limit)
4. Able to give informed consent
5. English speaking
6. Have daily personal access to the Internet via laptop or desktop computer, tablet or a smartphone.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Concomitant organic gastrointestinal disease
2. Diagnosed or presenting with serious mental illness (e.g., eating disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a dissociative disorder)
3. Cognitive or language barriers that make completion of questionnaires difficult or limit understanding of a verbal intervention (hypnosis)