About the IBS Audio Program 100

Program Background

Development of the adult and teen program – the IBS Audio Program 100® - began in 1991, with on-going refinements and trials within the clinical setting and sessions later recorded and made available to the public in 1998. The program uses Gut-Specific clinical hypnotherapeutic methods and also a process called Ongoing Progressive Session Induction Method™ (OPSIM™). This method differs from the recognised processes often reported and used in research and is based on optimal human learning patterns. Patient results show that this OPSIM  process has resulted in the reduction and frequency and in some cases the elimination of the variant IBS and related symptoms. 

In 1996, Mahoney was asked to participate in a medical research study of IBS hypnotherapy funded by the UK National Health Service through a 5 partner GP practice which was monitored by the local Health Authority Audit Commission. Gastroenterologists screened 20 long-term refractory IBS patients presenting with various IBS symptoms who had undergone medical diagnostic tests, and had taken prescription medications without attaining significant symptom relief. Each patient underwent Mahoney’s introductory and five subsequent hypnotherapy sessions. Sessions for all patient groups were staggered over 12 months. In this preliminary and initial trial, patients indicated an overall reduction of 80% in symptom severity and frequency of presentation.

In 1997, a new research study was begun which utilized improved processes and delivery methods developed by Mahoney. The independent study monitored patients using these new IBS hypnotherapy sessions recorded on home audio tapes.

Patients were asked to mark as a percentage the improvement they felt during the program period, immediately after program completion, in February 1998 and the three follow up periods of assessment at one year in February 1999; two years, in February 2000; and at three years, February 2001. The treatment group included 11 females and 4 males; average age 34.

For females: Average frequency of symptom presentation: 3.4 times daily. Average length of time IBS symptoms present: 8.63 years. Average length of time on medications: 5.5 years. Average reduction in medications: 96%.

For males: Average frequency of symptom presentation: 2.5 times daily. Average length of time IBS symptoms present: 4.75 years. Average length of time on medications: 3.8 years. Average reduction in medications: 94 %.

An average success rate based on reduction of symptom severity, and frequency of symptom presentation was close to or exceeding 90% for reduction of all symptoms for all patients. Over 20 IBS and related symptoms, including pain, diarrhoea, constipation, and bloating, were quantified by the patients and individually measured, as was the perceived improvement in overall quality of life. Rankings for the symptoms and follow up results may be viewed in these charts:

IBS Audio Program 100® Clinical Trials
 

 

 

 

 

Program Contents

The IBS Audio Program 100® is structured over a 100 day period, with a listening schedule for each day, including 20 days where the patient is not required to listen to a session as part of the learning process.

The program consists of three CDs, (or MP3 downloads) which contain a clear introduction to IBS and clinical hypnotherapy, and important information which simplifies the complexities of the emotional aspects of IBS, the fears, anxiety and depression which so often presents in IBS patients.

There are five different hypnotherapy sessions, each building on the preceding one, which link back to the introductory information. Sessions vary in duration but average 25-35 minutes in length.

An informational booklet containing symptom checklist, progress log, listening scheduler, and essential information for the IBS sufferer, accompanies the program.

The program also includes an additional CD entitled IBS Companion©, which explains IBS to family and other individuals in the IBS patient’s life. This title provides easy to understand and comforting content. Patients saddled with the embarrassing nature of the condition have found this recording to validate their suffering in a professional yet caring manner; it provides emotional support and helps remove the stigma of the condition for the patient, as well as the awkward burden of explanation to less than sympathetic companions.

The inclusion of this separate, non-therapeutic recording can also provide an added area of patient improvement through lifting the burden of explanation of IBS, as well as providing the potential for improved family cooperation and understanding, which again adds to the multi-level therapy approach.

For the IBS patient, the program provides positive results for the reduction or in some cases, the elimination of presenting physical and emotional IBS and related symptoms in a cost effective convenient way. Used in the privacy and security of the familiar home environment, the patient takes part in their own healing and the listening schedule structure encourages program compliance and completion.

Medical practitioners now can offer their IBS patients an additional source of effective relief which also effectively addresses health budget costs.

The program has been successfully used by thousands of IBS sufferers in over 40 countries, and is available in a slim, discreet folder or as an MP3 download.