Although the story suggests that the therapy can be expensive, this is not sufficient information on costs. The story does provide quantification of benefits in absolute terms for the 10-week and 4-week psychotherapy groups compared to no treatment. The story does not provide detail on the hypnotherapy studies. The story states that psychotherapies are “without side effects.” While that may reflect the existing data, it would have been preferable for the story to comment on potential side effects or harms without dismissing them. The story provides sufficient details about the design of the recent studies. The story could have provided additional details on the hypnotherapy studies cited. We are told that “just over half” of patients in the hypnotherapy group improved, while no patients in the control groups improved, but we are not given numbers or definition of “improved.” By accurately describing the prevalence of IBS, the story avoids disease mongering. The story quotes multiple sources. The story mentions drug treatment as the alternative. The story could have provided more information on lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. The story clearly states that cognitive behavioral therapy is available, but it is not clear how widely available it is and how difficult it may be to find a practitioner. The story clearly states that psychotherapy has been around for a while, but that it is a new approach for treating IBS. Because the story quotes multiple sources, the reader can assume that the story does not rely on a press release as the sole source of information. Although there was a press release issued from the meeting, the story does not lift text from it and the story also quotes researchers who were not included in the press release.
The mind as a path to comfort