ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect of electromyographie biofeedback on visceralgia hypersensitivity in patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the relationship between psychological factors and vis-ceral hypersensitivity. Methods Sixty patients with refractory IBS were enrolled in this study and received electro-myographic biofeedback treatment for 4 weeks. The threshold of visceralgia, and scores on the Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA) and the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) were evaluated before and after treatment. Re-suits Compared with the baseline values, the threshold of visceralgia increased significantly during treatment(P≤ 0101) and the total scores on both the HAMA and HAMD had declined significantly (P≤0.01) by the end of 4, weeks of treatment. The evolution of the index of the threshold of visceralgia was negatively correlated with the evolu-tion of both the HAMA and HAMD scores (r = -0.543, P≤0.01; r = -0.728,P≤0.01). Conclusion Elec-tromyographic biofeedback treatment can elevate the threshold of visceralgia hypersensitivity in patients with refractory IBS. Anxiety and depression might contribute to visceralgia hypersensitivity in IBS.