Targeting the gut-brain axis for therapeutic adherence in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a review on the role of psychotherapy

Figures & data

Table 1. Clinical trials that evaluated therapeutic adherence to therapy for inflammatory bowel diseases provided by psychological techniques.

Study, year and reference	Design	Intervention	Main adherence assessment	Main results
Hommel et al., (2011) [52]	RCT	Individually tailored behavioral treatment (four sessions of 60–75 minutes)	Pill count	Adherence to azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine and mesalamine increased by 4% and 25%, respectively, in the intervention group compared with the control.
Hommel et al., (2012) [56]	RCT	Family-Based Group Behavioral treatment (four sessions of 60–90 minutes)	Treatment regimen adherence questionnaire (designed ad hoc), pill count	Significant improvement of 25% in adherence toward mesalamine in the intervention group compared with the control.
Hommel et al (2013)., [59]	nRCT	Telehealth behavioral treatment (four weekly Skype sessions of 60–90 minutes)	Pill count	Nonsignificant 29% increase in mesalamine adherence.
Keefer et al (2012)., [57]	RCT	“Project Management” (six sessions of 60 minutes), Crohn’s disease targeted	Morisky adherence scale	No impact on medication adherence
Ewais et al (2021)., [45]	RCT	Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (eight weekly sessions of 60 minutes)	Morisky adherence scale	Improvement in medication adherence
Keefer et al (2013)., [64]	RCT	Gut-directed hypnotherapy (seven weekly sessions of 40 minutes), ulcerative colitis targeted	Morisky adherence scale	No impact on medication adherence

RCT: randomized controlled trial; nRCT: nonrandomized nor controlled trial.

Hommel KA, Herzer M, Ingerski LM, et al. Individually tailored treatment of medication nonadherence. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2011;53(4):435–439.

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Hommel KA, Hente EA, Odell S, et al. Evaluation of a group-based behavioral intervention to promote adherence in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;24:64–69.

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Hommel KA, Hente E, Herzer M, et al. Telehealth behavioral treatment for medication nonadherence: a pilot and feasibility study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;25(4):469–473.

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Keefer L, Doerfler B, Artz C. Optimizing management of Crohn’s disease within a project management framework: results of a pilot study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2012;18:254–260.

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Ewais T, Begun J, Kenny M, et al. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for youth with inflammatory bowel disease and depression - Findings from a pilot randomised controlled trial. J Psychosom Res. 2021;149:110594.

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Keefer L, Taft TH, Kiebles JL, et al. Gut-directed hypnotherapy significantly augments clinical remission in quiescent ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2013;38(7):761–771.

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