Study: Virtual Reality Helps IBS Patients

A home-based virtual reality (VR) program developed by Cedars-Sinai investigators to help patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pain received positive feedback from users, according to a new study in Current Gastroenterology Reports. The eight-week program, known as IBS VR, makes use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help patients manage symptoms such as pain and stress.

In an ongoing clinical trial, Cedars-Sinai gives VR headsets and the IBS VR app to patients, who get access to new virtual “treatment rooms” every few days. In the treatment rooms, patients learn relaxation strategies and other tactics to help manage their IBS symptoms.

“We want to raise awareness of the opportunity to think beyond the pill and particularly think about VR,” said Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS, director of Health Services Research at Cedars-Sinai and senior author of the study. “IBS is a gut-brain interaction disorder, and we know that calming the nervous system using cognitive behavioral therapy helps keep the gut calm. We want to add IBS VR to the cognitive behavioral therapy toolbox, particularly because IBS VR is more easily accessible to all patients. We are bringing the clinic to the patient.”

The app-based treatment will now undergo testing funded by a $1 million, three-year grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Additional authors: Karisma K. Suchak, Christopher V. Almario, Omer Liran, Robert Chernoff

Funding: Drs. Brennan Spiegel and Omer Liran co-developed SynerGI using internal resources from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with additional support from the Marc and Sheri Rapaport Fund for Digital Health Science and Precision Health at Cedars-Sinai.

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