Media

It is common for Hong Kong people to suffer from disordered defecation such as diarrhea and constipation due to unknown reasons. In fact, abdominal discomforts often come with stress. Emotional disturbance and stress might affect our intestinal functions. When our body sound an alarm, it may in fact be symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Professor Siu-man Ng from the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has led an evidence-based study on hypnotherapy for IBS in 2017. The study was aimed at exploring an alternative therapy leading to full recovery for persons suffering from IBS. It was the first study of IBS in Asia to have adopted a three-armed randomized control trial in evaluating the effectiveness of hypnotherapy.

IBS may lead to intestinal abnormality, but its cause is not yet clear. Apart from pharmaceutical treatment, past studies have shown that adjunct therapies such as hypnotherapy can help relieve the symptoms of IBS to varying degrees. Hypnotherapy has always been a modern intervention method of psychological counseling.

A total of 144 participants were recruited for this IBS study. Participants were Chinese adults aged between 18 to 60 who have undergone treatment for IBS with not much improvement to their condition.

The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis.

The research team will hold a media briefing to release the research findings and explain the effectiveness of hypnotherapy on IBS.

Details of the media briefing are as follows:

Date:          10 June 2022 (Friday)
Time:          12:00 noon
Venue:       Room 328, Jockey Club Teaching Tower, Centennial Campus, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong

Speakers:

• Professor Siu-man NG, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU
• Dr. Pauline Yuen-ping, WAN, Lecturer, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU
• Dr. Kelvin Kwok-wing, TANG, Adjourned assistant professor, Department of Social Work and Social Administration, HKU

For media enquiries, please contact: 
Professor Ng Siu Man (Contact no.: 3917 4370; Email: ngsiuman@hku.hk)
Dr. Wan Yuen Ping, Pauline (Contact no.: 3917 5586; Email: wanyp@hku.hk)