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Review
. 2024 Nov;26(11):294-303.
doi: 10.1007/s11894-024-00940-w. Epub 2024 Aug 13.

The Role of Virtual Reality in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Karisma K Suchak  1   2 , Christopher V Almario  3   4   5 , Omer Liran  3   4   6 , Robert Chernoff  6 , Brennan R Spiegel  3   4   5
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Virtual Reality in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Karisma K Suchak et al. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2024 Nov.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction that significantly impacts health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This article explores the potential role of virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treating patients with IBS.

Recent findings: While CBT is a proven, skills-based therapy approach that modifies behaviors and alters dysfunctional thinking patterns to influence the gut-brain axis and improve IBS symptoms, it is rarely prescribed given a paucity of CBT-trained clinicians. We developed a novel VR program that delivers a standardized CBT program over an 8-week period to help patients manage their symptoms. In initial qualitative validation testing, patients expressed positive perceptions about using VR CBT for IBS. Home-based, standardized VR CBT has the potential to be an effective and scalable treatment option for patients with IBS. While initial studies have shown proof-of-concept definitive randomized controlled trials are needed to demonstrate the efficacy of self-administered VR CBT in IBS.

Keywords: Cognitive behavioral therapy; Irritable bowel syndrome; Virtual reality.

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Conflict of interest statement

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. Drs. Spiegel and Liran are co-founders of VRx Health. Dr. Christopher Almario consulted for Exact Sciences, Greenspace Labs and Owlstone Medical; has stock options in My Total Health. Dr. Spiegel consulted for Ardelyx, Exact Sciences, Ferring; has leadership roles in the American College of Gastroenterology (Governor for Southern California); has research grants to his institution from Abbvie, Amgen, Ironwood, Salix/Bausch, Takeda; has patents for My Nutrition Health, digital manometry, AbStats sensor. Dr. Robert Chernoff and Dr. Karisma Suchak do not have any relevant conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual model of VR analgesia depicting MOAs and their proposed primary and secondary effects in IBS
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Select images from VR treatment rooms and their CBT components
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
8-week CBT treatment protocol as delivered in VR. See text for details
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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