Standardized Yoga and Meditation Program for Stress Reduction (SYMPro-SR) for Adolescents with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) results in discomfort in youth. This study proposes that yoga and mindfulness will decrease anxiety and improve the quality of life in IBS youth.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE AND INTERVENTION

To measure the impact of a virtual 6-week Standardized Yoga and Meditation Program for Stress Reduction (SYMPro-SR) program on anxiety, symptoms, and quality of life.

METHODS/DESIGN: Participants completed 3 surveys over the phone before and after the yoga course. A minimum sample size of 45 subjects was calculated to detect a 20% difference in pre and post Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) scores, using 80% power, a two-tailed P value of .05, and a standard deviation SCARED total score of 10. Due to COVID-19, the study was converted into a pilot study with a goal of 10 recruited patients. Additional recruitment is ongoing.

SETTING

Virtual.

PARTICIPANTS

Youth aged 12-21 years with IBS in 2 pediatric gastroenterology offices in New Jersey. 40 subjects were approached, 10 were onboarded, and 8 completed the program. There were 4 female, 4 male, 6 white, 1 Asian, and 1 black participant(s).

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

SCARED, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and Children Somatic Symptoms Inventory (CSSI) pre and post-yoga survey scores.

RESULTS

Post-intervention, PedsQL showed improvement (P = .01). The SCARED anxiety subscale scores significantly decreased (P = .01). There was a trend for improved outcomes in SCARED panic disorder and separation anxiety subscale scores (P = .07 and .08, respectively). Four (sore muscles, stomach aches, feeling bloated or gassy, and food making one sick) of the 24 symptoms in the CSSI significantly improved post-intervention.

CONCLUSION

Teenagers with IBS were able to complete the yoga videos at home, with demonstrated improvement in quality of life, certain aspects of anxiety, and some somatic symptoms.