Abstract
BackgroundApproximately two thirds of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) respond well to hypnotherapy. However, it is time consuming as well as expensive to provide and therefore a way of predicting outcome would be extremely useful. The use of imagery and color form an integral part of the hypnotherapeutic process and we have hypothesised that investigating color and how it relates to mood might help to predict response to treatment. In order to undertake this study we have previously developed and validated a method of presenting colors to individuals for research purposes called the Manchester Color Wheel (MCW). Using this instrument we have been able to classify colors into positive, neutral and negative shades and this study aimed to assess their predictive role in hypnotherapy.Methods156 consecutive IBS patients (aged 14-74, mean 42.0 years, 127 (81%) females, 29 (19%) males) were studied. Before treatment, each patient was asked to relate their mood to a color on the MCW as well as completing the IBS Symptom Severity Score, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale, the Non-colonic Symptom Scale, the Quality of Life Scale and the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS) which is a measure of hypnotisability. Following hypnotherapy all these measures were repeated with the exception of the TAS.ResultsFor patients with a positive mood color the odds of responding to hypnotherapy were nine times higher than that of those choosing either a neutral or negative color or no color at all (odds ratio: 8.889; p = 0.042). Furthermore, a high TAS score and the presence of HAD anxiety also had good predictive value (odds ratio: 4.024; p = 0.092, 3.917; p < 0.001 respectively) with these markers and a positive mood color being independent of each other. In addition, these factors could be combined to give an even stronger prediction of outcome. Twice as many responders (63, 77.8%) had a positive mood color or were anxious or had a high TAS score compared with 32 (42.7%) without these factors (p < 0.001).ConclusionA positive mood color, especially when combined with HAD anxiety and a high TAS score, predict a good response to hypnotherapy.
Highlights
Two thirds of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) respond well to hypnotherapy
We have previously shown that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to respond to hypnotherapy (HT) treatment if they have an image of their illness and especially if that image is in color [1]
Anxiety and depression The above results were re-analysed to see whether there were any differences between mood color choice and response to HT when patients were divided into those suffering from anxiety and depression according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale as well as those who were neither anxious nor depressed
Summary
Two thirds of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) respond well to hypnotherapy. In order to undertake this study we have previously developed and validated a method of presenting colors to individuals for research purposes called the Manchester Color Wheel (MCW) Using this instrument we have been able to classify colors into positive, neutral and negative shades and this study aimed to assess their predictive role in hypnotherapy. We have previously shown that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more likely to respond to hypnotherapy (HT) treatment if they have an image of their illness and especially if that image is in color [1] This led us to speculate that how a patient relates their illness and their mood to color might help to predict outcome to treatment and it was the purpose of. If an individual has something that affects their mood this makes them more likely to attribute a color to their state of mind
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