SCIENTIFIC ABSTRACT There is increasing evidence that relapse of ulcerative colitis (UC) can be provoked by psychological stress. As yet, there have been no proper scientific studies to find out whether stress reduction can improve the course of UC. Hypnotherapy is a technique by which a practitioner induces a temporary trance-like state in patients: while they are in this state, the practitioner uses suggestion to induce relaxation as well as beneficial modification of the way in which the patient experiences the gut working. In previous studies in our lab, we have shown that a single session of hypnosis can reduce measures of inflammation at both systemic and rectal mucosal levels. Thus, 50min of gut-focussed hypnosis reduced serum interleukin-6 (IL6) and non-killer (NK) cell numbers in circulating blood, as well as rectal mucosal release of interleukin-13 (IL13), substance P and histamine. Furthermore, in earlier work by others, hypnosis has been shown to be effective in the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome, duodenal ulcer and indigestion unassociated with ulcers.