Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorder which is characterized primarily by centralized abdominal pain and altered bowel movements. IBS is a highly prevalent disease, and it tends to show comorbidity with psychiatric disorders that significantly impact the health-related quality of life (HRQL). IBS-Specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a  novel, but effective treatment for IBS, however, there is limited access to affordable and qualified clinicians who can administer the GI-specific CBT. 

We have been testing the efficacy of a self-help mobile app that delivers CBT to IBS patients called Zemedy. The recruited participants are allocated either to the treatment group or the active control group. The treatment group received access to the Zemedy app for 8 weeks, while the active control group simultaneously used the educational and relaxation training app that contains publicly available information on IBS and several mindfulness meditation and relaxation videos. We analyzed the 8-week post-treatment data for both groups to assess the efficacy of the apps on improving HRQL and reducing IBS symptom severity, along with examining their impact on visceral hypersensitivity, fear of food, and catastrophizing.