Hypnotherapy self-exercises with audio files for children and adolescents with disorders of gut-brain interaction-a study of feasibility and preliminary effects in Sweden.

Background: Gut-directed hypnotherapy is effective for treating children with disorders of gut-brain interaction, but is currently unavailable in Sweden. Objectives: To evaluate the within-group effect and feasibility of a Swedish adaptation of an audio-based gut-directed hypnotherapy program. Design: Uncontrolled within-group feasibility study. Methods: Children and adolescents (aged 8-17) diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, or functional dyspepsia (per Rome IV criteria) participated in a 12-week online hypnotherapy program. The program used audio files that were translated and adapted from a validated Dutch protocol. Data were collected at baseline, during treatment, and post-treatment. The primary outcome was gastrointestinal symptoms, measured by the PedsQL Gastrointestinal Symptoms Short Scale. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity and frequency, quality of life, stress, depression, anxiety, school absenteeism, and treatment credibility and satisfaction. Analyses with linear mixed models were used to estimate means, standard deviations, and effect sizes (Cohen's Results: Of the 32 patients included in the study, 25 (78%) completed the program and provided post-treatment data. Significant improvements in PedsQL gastro score were observed, with moderate effect size in child reports ( Conclusion: The Swedish version of audio-based gut-directed hypnotherapy appears feasible and acceptable, with promising symptom improvements in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders. A randomized controlled trial should be conducted to confirm efficacy and identify predictors of treatment response.