Background. Functional gastrointestinal disorders are highly prevalent and standard treatments are often unsatisfactory.\nMindfulness-based therapy has shown benefit in conditions including chronic pain, mood, and somatization disorders. Objectives.\nTo assess the quality and effectiveness reported in existing literature, we conducted a meta-analysis of mindfulness-based therapy\nin functional gastrointestinal disorders. Methods. Pubmed, EBSCO, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception toMay\n2014. Study inclusion criteria included randomized, controlled studies of adults using mindfulness-based therapy in the treatment\nof functional gastrointestinal disorders. Study quality was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias. Effect sizes were calculated\nand pooled to achieve a summary effect for the intervention on symptom severity and quality of life. Results. Of 119 records, eight\narticles, describing seven studies, met inclusion criteria. In six studies, significant improvements were achieved or maintained at\nthe end of intervention or follow-up time points. The studies had an unclear or high risk of bias. Pooled effects were statistically\nsignificant for IBS severity (0.59, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.86) and quality of life (0.56, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.79). Conclusion. Studies suggest that\nmindfulness based interventions may provide benefit in functional gastrointestinal disorders; however, substantial improvements\nin methodological quality and reporting are needed
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