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RecruitingNCT06145022Updated Nov 22, 2023

Stress Reduction and Lifestyle Modification in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

An interventional study of lifestyle modification and waitlist control group in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, sponsored by Universität Duisburg-Essen. Recruiting at 1 site in Germany. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-11-22.

Sponsored by Universität Duisburg-Essen · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Dec 2024, 1 year 9 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Nov 2023; still recruiting 2 years 10 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
118
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 75 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

In the planned efficacy study, a prospective randomized controlled trial will be conducted to investigate the extent to which a multimodal stress reduction and lifestyle modification program can be reflected in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) within the framework of a clinical study. For this purpose, 118 patients with IBS will be enrolled in a clinical study. The intervention group will participate in a partial outpatient multimodal stress reduction and lifestyle modification program over 10 weeks, while the waitlist control group will only receive an educational session and written information on treatment and self-help options. The primary research question encompasses the examination of the program's impact on the severity of symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (measured with the IBS-Symptom Severity Scale [IBS-SSS]) and additionally its influence on quality of life, stress, and mental well-being. Another aspect of the study is the utilization of medical services (e.g., comparing the number of doctor visits; intake of prescribed and over-the-counter medications). Additionally, a comparison of days of work disability will be conducted.

Read the detailed description

The intervention is a 10-week multimodal stress reduction and lifestyle modification program consisting of 10 sessions, each lasting 6 hours. In groups of around 10 individuals, patients are comprehensively trained on the interplay between lifestyle and health, stress management, moderate physical activity (including yoga and Tai Chi), a Mediterranean diet, and self-help strategies. Successfully tested in two pilot studies, the program has evolved over 15 years and gained clinical experience in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. It is now being applied to patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Built on concepts like the Mind-Body Program and mindfulness-based stress reduction, the intervention incorporates elements from salutogenic and transtheoretical models and psychotherapeutic approaches.

Few integrative medicine approaches for IBS have undergone rigorous evaluation. IBS patients often experience reduced quality of life due to stress and psychosocial symptoms. The program, proven effective in inflammatory bowel diseases, covers stress reduction, dietary improvement, physical activity promotion, self-care applications, coping strategy training, and naturopathic treatments. Medically supervised, the group setting aims to enhance the intervention's impact through mutual support. Practical skills are demonstrated, and the goal is to empower patients for active, responsible, long-term management.

Participants in the waitlist control group receive a 1,5-hour educational session on lifestyle factors' influence and self-help materials. After week 36 measurements, they are offered participation in the multimodal program.

Questionnaires, a diary, and interviews will measure the outcomes of the study. Sociodemographics will be collected.

02

Conditions studied

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Keywords

  • lifestyle modification
  • Mind-Body medicine
  • integrative medicine
03

In context

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

1,062 studies on the registry are indexed under Irritable Bowel Syndrome; 190 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 118 is above the median of 71 across 853 interventional studies indexed under Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Browse Irritable Bowel Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

Universität Duisburg-Essen is the lead sponsor of 82 studies on the registry; 13 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 75 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • confirmed diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS with diarrhea, IBS with constipation, mixed-type IBS, or unspecified IBS); IBS-SSS Score > 75

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe mental illness (e.g., clinically significant depression, substance use disorder, schizophrenia)
  • Severe comorbid somatic illness (e.g., oncological disease)
  • Pregnancy
  • Participation in other stress reduction programs or clinical studies on psychological interventions
  • Known intolerances (fructose, lactose), celiac disease, etc.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
118 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    intervention group

    Once a week for 10 weeks with a circumference of 60 hours with mindfulness-based stress reduction and further process of the Mind / body medicine.

    Behavioral: lifestyle modification

  • Active comparator
    waitlist control group

    A unique education unit within the scope of 1,5 hours on the influence of lifestyle factors on the disease and self-help materials for the independent training. After the follow-up measurement opportunity to participate in the program.

    Behavioral: waitlist control group

Interventions

  • Behaviorallifestyle modification

    The group intervention is carried out once a week for 10 weeks for a total of 60 hours with elements of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mind / body medicine. In this project, this program will be adapted to the specific needs of irritable bowel syndrome patients.

  • Behavioralwaitlist control group

    Participants in this group receive a one-time education unit within the scope of 1,5 hours on the influence of lifestyle factors on the disease, also self-help materials for independent training offered. Following the follow-up measure also this group is given the opportunity to participate in the multimodal stress reduction- and lifestyle modification program.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Severity of IBS symptoms by IBS-SSS

    Irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system (IBS-SSS); 5-item questionnaire; scale from 0% (= not at all) to 100% (= very severe); cut-off of IBS-SSS scores to evaluate the severity of IBS: \< 175 for mild IBS, 175-300 for moderate IBS, and \> 300 for severe IBS

    Time frame: week 0

  2. Severity of IBS symptoms by IBS-SSS

    Irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system (IBS-SSS); 5-item questionnaire; scale from 0% (= not at all) to 100% (= very severe); cut-off of IBS-SSS scores to evaluate the severity of IBS: \< 175 for mild IBS, 175-300 for moderate IBS, and \> 300 for severe IBS

    Time frame: week 12

  3. Severity of IBS symptoms by IBS-SSS

    Irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system (IBS-SSS); 5-item questionnaire; scale from 0% (= not at all) to 100% (= very severe); cut-off of IBS-SSS scores to evaluate the severity of IBS: \< 175 for mild IBS, 175-300 for moderate IBS, and \> 300 for severe IBS

    Time frame: week 36

  4. overall change in health status

    Rating scale from 1 (= much worse) to 5 (= much better)

    Time frame: week 12

  5. overall change in health status

    Rating scale from 1 (= much worse) to 5 (= much better)

    Time frame: week 36

Secondary outcomes

  1. Disease related Quality of Life by IBS-QOL

    The IBS-QOL is a self-report quality-of-life measure specific to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) that can be used to assess the impact of IBS and its treatment. 34 items with a 5-point response scale from 1 (=not at all) to 5 (= Extremely/a great deal); 34 items are summed and averaged for a total score and then transformed to a 0-100 scale for ease of interpretation with higher scores indicating better IBS specific quality of life.

    Time frame: week 0

  2. Disease related Quality of Life by IBS-QOL

    The IBS-QOL is a self-report quality-of-life measure specific to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) that can be used to assess the impact of IBS and its treatment. 34 items with a 5-point response scale from 1 (=not at all) to 5 (= Extremely/a great deal); 34 items are summed and averaged for a total score and then transformed to a 0-100 scale for ease of interpretation with higher scores indicating better IBS specific quality of life.

    Time frame: week 12

  3. Disease related Quality of Life by IBS-QOL

    The IBS-QOL is a self-report quality-of-life measure specific to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) that can be used to assess the impact of IBS and its treatment. 34 items with a 5-point response scale from 1 (=not at all) to 5 (= Extremely/a great deal); 34 items are summed and averaged for a total score and then transformed to a 0-100 scale for ease of interpretation with higher scores indicating better IBS specific quality of life.

    Time frame: week 36

  4. General Quality of Life by EQ-5D-SL

    The EQ-5D assesses health status in terms of five dimensions of health (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression) and is considered a 'generic' questionnaire because these dimensions are not specific to any one patient group or health condition. 5-point response-scale from 1 (=not /no problems) to 5 (=unable to \[mobility, self-care, usual activities\]/extreme \[pain/depression\]/extremely \[anxiety/depression\]); result: 5-digit health status profile that represents that person's level of reported problems on the five EQ-5D health dimensions

    Time frame: week 0

  5. General Quality of Life by EQ-5D-SL

    The EQ-5D assesses health status in terms of five dimensions of health (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression) and is considered a 'generic' questionnaire because these dimensions are not specific to any one patient group or health condition. 5-point response-scale from 1 (=not /no problems) to 5 (=unable to \[mobility, self-care, usual activities\]/extreme \[pain/depression\]/extremely \[anxiety/depression\]); result: 5-digit health status profile that represents that person's level of reported problems on the five EQ-5D health dimensions

    Time frame: week 12

  6. General Quality of Life by EQ-5D-SL

    The EQ-5D assesses health status in terms of five dimensions of health (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression) and is considered a 'generic' questionnaire because these dimensions are not specific to any one patient group or health condition. 5-point response-scale from 1 (=not /no problems) to 5 (=unable to \[mobility, self-care, usual activities\]/extreme \[pain/depression\]/extremely \[anxiety/depression\]); result: 5-digit health status profile that represents that person's level of reported problems on the five EQ-5D health dimensions

    Time frame: week 36

  7. Stress: Perceived Stress (PSS-10)

    Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rating on a five-step scale from 1 (= never) to 5 (=very often), high stress is assumed from a total score of 20 points

    Time frame: week 0

  8. Stress: Perceived Stress (PSS-10)

    Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rating on a five-step scale from 1 (= never) to 5 (=very often), high stress is assumed from a total score of 20 points

    Time frame: week 12

  9. Stress: Perceived Stress (PSS-10)

    Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rating on a five-step scale from 1 (= never) to 5 (=very often), high stress is assumed from a total score of 20 points

    Time frame: week 36

  10. Stress: Coping Strategies (CISS)

    Short version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (24 items); Rating on a five-step scale from 1 (= not at all) to 5 (= very much); sum score for each coping strategy; higher scores indicate a greater use of that particular coping strategy

    Time frame: week 0

  11. Stress: Coping Strategies (CISS)

    Short version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (24 items); Rating on a five-step scale from 1 (= not at all) to 5 (= very much); sum score for each coping strategy; higher scores indicate a greater use of that particular coping strategy

    Time frame: week 12

  12. Stress: Coping Strategies (CISS)

    Short version of the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (24 items); Rating on a five-step scale from 1 (= not at all) to 5 (= very much); sum score for each coping strategy; higher scores indicate a greater use of that particular coping strategy

    Time frame: week 36

  13. Core Self-Evaluation by CSES

    Core Self-Evaluation (CSES), 12 items on five-point Likert scale, 1 indicates disagreement and 5 indicates full agreement. High scores on the CSES represents a positive, confident, and self-efficacious person

    Time frame: week 0

  14. Core Self-Evaluation by CSES

    Core Self-Evaluation (CSES), 12 items on five-point Likert scale, 1 indicates disagreement and 5 indicates full agreement. High scores on the CSES represents a positive, confident, and self-efficacious person

    Time frame: week 12

  15. Core Self-Evaluation by CSES

    Core Self-Evaluation (CSES), 12 items on five-point Likert scale, 1 indicates disagreement and 5 indicates full agreement. High scores on the CSES represents a positive, confident, and self-efficacious person

    Time frame: week 36

  16. Utilization of medical services

    Number of visits

    Time frame: week 0

  17. Utilization of medical services

    Number of visits

    Time frame: week 12

  18. Utilization of medical services

    Number of visits

    Time frame: week 36

  19. Days of work disability

    Number of days

    Time frame: week 0

  20. Days of work disability

    Number of days

    Time frame: week 12

  21. Days of work disability

    Number of days

    Time frame: week 36

  22. Anxiety and depression by HADS

    Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), 14 items (7 each for depressive symptoms or symptoms of anxiety). The two summated scores of the summated scales HADS-A and HADS-D range between 0 and 21. high scores indicate depressivness and anxiety.

    Time frame: week 0

  23. Anxiety and depression by HADS

    Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), 14 items (7 each for depressive symptoms or symptoms of anxiety). The two summated scores of the summated scales HADS-A and HADS-D range between 0 and 21. high scores indicate depressivness and anxiety.

    Time frame: week 12

  24. Anxiety and depression by HADS

    Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), 14 items (7 each for depressive symptoms or symptoms of anxiety). The two summated scores of the summated scales HADS-A and HADS-D range between 0 and 21. high scores indicate depressivness and anxiety.

    Time frame: week 36

  25. Qualitative Interviews

    Qualitative interviews for gaining further insights into patients experiences

    Time frame: week 12

  26. Adverse events

    all adverse events

    Time frame: week 12

  27. Adverse events

    all adverse events

    Time frame: week 36

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 22, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06145022
Lead sponsor
Universität Duisburg-Essen
Collaborators
Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care
Responsible party
Jost Langhorst (Prof. Dr. med., Universität Duisburg-Essen) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 22, 2023
Start date
Nov 10, 2023
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2024 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 31, 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 22, 2023

Study contacts

Sandra Utz, PhD
Contact
sandra.utz@sozialstiftung-bamberg.de
+49 951 503 ext. 16926
Christine Uecker
Contact
christine.uecker@sozialstiftung-bamberg.de
+49 951 503 ext. 16932
Jost Langhorst, Prof. Dr.
principal investigator · University of Duisburg-Essen/Sozialstiftung Bamberg

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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