Face-to-Face Versus Digital, Telephone-Delivered, and Self-Help Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Bayesian Indirect Treatment Comparison Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, it remains unclear whether face-to-face CBT is as effective as digital, self-help, or telephone-delivered CBT for IBS.

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the relative effects of face-to-face CBT compared with digital, telephone-delivered, and self-help CBT for IBS and to assess whether there are adequate effective sample sizes to support the findings.

Methods

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to September 27, 2025. Randomized controlled trials of face-to-face, digital, self-help, or telephone-delivered CBT for IBS in adults were included. The primary outcome was the IBS symptom severity scale. The secondary outcomes were IBS quali

SUBMITTER: Tao QF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12782461 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature