Behavioral therapy is superior to follow-up without intervention in patients with supragastric belching-A randomized study.

Abstract

Behavioral therapy (BT) has been proven effective in the treatment of supragastric belching (SGB) in open studies. The aim was to compare BT to follow-up without intervention in patients with SGB in a randomized study. Forty-two patients were randomized to receive 5 sessions of BT, comprising diaphragmatic breathing exercises, or to follow-up without intervention. Patients were evaluated at 6months, at which point the control group was also offered BT and evaluated after another 6months. The frequency and intensity of belching and mental well-being were evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). Depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were evaluated with four questionnaires: BDI, BAI, 15D, and RAND-36. The frequency and intensity of SGB were significantly lower in the therapy group (n=19) than in the control group (n=18) at the 6-month control (p<0.001). When all patients (n=36) were evaluated 6months after BT, in addition to relief in the frequency and intensity of belching (p<0.001), mental well-being had also improved (p<0.05). Of all 36 patients, 27(75%) responded to BT. Depression scores were lower after therapy (p<0.05). Only minor changes occurred in anxiety and HRQoL. Behavioral therapy is superior to follow-up without intervention in patients with SGB in reducing belching and depression; it also improves mental well-being but has only a modest effect on anxiety and HRQoL.