An interventional study of Well-Being Intervention in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, sponsored by University of Wisconsin, Madison. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-29.
Sponsored by University of Wisconsin, Madison · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this randomized behavioral clinical trial is to examine whether a well-being intervention can improve both psychological well-being and physical outcomes in adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The study aims to assess whether this intervention decreases anger, anxiety, and depression; increases self-esteem, empathy, and hope; and improves quality of life indicators such as IBS symptom severity, sleep quality, fatigue, and diet. Participants can expect to be on study for up to 9 months.
This study consists of two phases:
Study 1 (Screening and Baseline Assessment):
Participants who self-identify as having been diagnosed with IBS and receive care at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Digestive Health Center will complete a battery of self-report questionnaires assessing well-being, anger, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, empathy, hope, sleep quality, fatigue, diet, and IBS symptom severity.
Study 2 (Intervention Phase - registered here):
Eligible participants will be randomized to either an experimental well-being intervention or a waitlist control condition. Participants assigned to the waitlist control condition will not receive the intervention during the initial intervention period but will complete all scheduled assessments. After completion of the first post-test assessment, waitlist participants will receive the same 15-session well-being intervention (crossover design).
The intervention will be held once a week for 15 weeks, lasting approximately one hour per session, conducted in a private meeting room at the Digestive Health Center. Sessions focus on emotional awareness, perspective-taking, and developing the capacity to overcome hurt and resentment toward a person who acted unfairly.
Following completion, both groups will complete post-test and follow-up assessments identical to the baseline questionnaires. Qualitative interviews will be conducted to explore participants' experiences with the intervention.
[Note - so as not to bias participants, specific information about the intervention will be withheld until the study is complete]
Exclusion Criteria:
Behavioral: Well-Being Intervention
Behavioral: Well-Being Intervention
The intervention will be once weekly over a 15-week period, lasting approximately one hour per session.
Anger measured by PROMIS Anger Scale Score
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anger Scale is scored from 5-25 where higher scores indicates more anger.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Anxiety measured by PROMIS Anxiety Scale Score
The PROMIS Anxiety Scale is scored from 7-35 where higher scores indicates more anxiety.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Depression measured by IBS PROMIS Depression Scale Score
The IBS PROMIS Depression Scale is scored from 8-40 where higher scores indicates more depression.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Fatigue measured by IBS Fatigue 8a Score
The IBS Fatigue 8a Scale is scored from 8-40 where higher scores indicates more fatigue.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Sleep Disturbance measured by IBS Sleep Disturbance 8b
The IBS Sleep Disturbance 8b Scale is scored from 8-40 where higher scores indicates more sleep disturbance.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Pain measured by Item 1b of the IBS Symptom Severity Scale
This item is scored from 0-100 where higher scores indicates increased pain.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
IBS Severity Score measured by IBS Symptom Severity Scale
The IBS Symptom Severity Scale is scored from 0-100 where higher scores indicates more severe IBS symptoms.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Well-Being measured by a 30 item Inventory
The inventory is scored from 30-180 where higher scores indicates greater level of well-being.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Self-esteem measured by Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale Score
The Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale is scored from 0-30 where higher scores indicates higher self esteem.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Empathy measured by Empathy Questionnaire
The Empathy Questionnaire is scored from 0-64 where higher scores indicates higher empathy.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Hope measured by Heart Hope Index Score
The Heart Hope Index is scored from 12-48 where higher scores indicates greater hope.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Healthy Diet Pattern measured by an IBS Diet Survey
The Diet Survey is scored from 5-24 where higher scores indicate healthier diet pattern.
Time frame: Data will be collected up to 17 weeks and will include a 4-and 12-week post-intervention assessment for both the waitlist-control and intervention groups (intervention group up to 29 weeks on study and the waitlist-control group up to 46 weeks on study)
Plan to share: No
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University of Wisconsin, Madison