A New Approach to Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The Impact of Neurofeedback on Electrophysiological Markers and Patient Symptoms

Background and Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder with symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of the brain-gut axis plays a central role in IBS pathophysiology. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of neurofeedback therapy in modulating brain wave activity and alleviating IBS symptoms. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group was employed. Thirty female patients with IBS, diagnosed using the Rome III diagnostic criteria, were randomly assigned to experimental (n = ۱۵) and control (n = ۱۵) groups. The experimental group underwent ۲۰ neurofeedback sessions over six weeks. Quantitative electroencephalography assessed brain wave activity and validated symptom severity scales, measured clinical outcomes. Statistical analyses compared pre- and post-intervention results within and between groups. Results: Neurofeedback therapy significantly normalized alpha and beta brain wave activities in the experimental group (P < ۰.۰۱). Participants also reported substantial improvements in IBS symptom severity, including reduced abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel habits (P < ۰.۰۱). No significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: Neurofeedback therapy effectively regulates brain wave activity and reduces IBS symptoms, offering a promising complementary approach for managing this chronic disease. These findings suggest that neurofeedback can be incorporated into clinical practice as a non-invasive, adjunctive treatment for IBS. Further large-scale, long-term studies are recommended to confirm these findings and optimize treatment protocols.

کلیدواژه ها:

Biofeedback Therapy ، Brain-Gut Axis ، Electroencephalography ، Irritable bowel syndrome ، Neurofeedback