Psychological Support and Therapy for Gut Disorders
-
Professor Michael Kamm
Project Details
Many patients with gut symptoms are not helped by drugs or surgical treatment. However psychological or behavioural therapies have been shown to improve or cure many such patients.
Gut symptoms such as pain, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, bloating heartburn and incontinence are common. Personal factors and trauma often underlie these disorders which can be cured with broadly based therapies beyond drugs and surgery.
Our studies in this area have led to the establishment of clinical services within a traditional medical setting that provide holistic broadly-based care, training and research in multi-disciplinary care for Australian and international health-care workers. An outstanding team of therapists, including psychiatrists, psychologists, pain specialists, dietitians, and behavioural therapists work together with gastroenterologists and surgeons to provide a broad range of psychological or behavioural treatments. It serves as a new model for delivering effective health care.
The MANTRA Study (Multi-disciplinary Treatment for Functional Gut Disorders) provides a new model of care for functional gut disorders, often without drugs or surgery.
The RAP Study (Rehabilitation After Pouch) aims to improve bowel function in patients with an ileoanal pouch using behavioural feedback therapy.
The LIBERATE Study (Behavioural Treatment in Inflammatory Bowel Disease) aims to improve bowel symptoms in patients experiencing functional symptoms from their Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
A holistic approach to the treatment of gut conditions can lead to symptom relief or cure, often when drug therapy or surgery are not appropriate or have failed
Researchers
Professor Michael Kamm – Group Leader
Dr Chamara Basnayake – Gastroenterologist and PhD Fellow
Ms. Angela Khera – Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist
Associate Professor Michael Salzberg
Ms. Annalise Stanley – Research Nurse
Professor Alexander Thompson – Gastroenterologist
Dr Amy Wilson-O’Brien – Clinical Scientist
Collaborators
Ms. Kate Fox
Dr. Jim Kantidakis
Dr. Ola Krupinska
Ms. Isabella Lees-Trinca
Professor Danny Liew
Professor Nick Talley
Dr. Olivia Wong
Funding
St. Vincent’s Hospital Research Endowment Fund
Research Publications
Basnayake, C, et al., Standard gastroenterologist versus multidisciplinary treatment for functional gastrointestinal disorders (MANTRA): an open label, single-centre, randomized controlled trial” Lancet Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2020 July Online Ahead of Print
Basnayake, C., et al., Defining Optimal Care for Functional Gut Disorders - Multi-Disciplinary Versus Standard Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol. Contemp Clin Trials, 2019. 84: p. 105828.
Khera, A.J., et al., Gut-Directed Pelvic Floor Behavioral Treatment for Fecal Incontinence and Constipation in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2019. 25(3): p. 620-626.
Khera, A.J., et al., Systematic review: Pelvic floor muscle training for functional bowel symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease. JGH Open, 2019. 3(6): p. 494-507
Basnayake, C., et al., Outcome of hospital outpatient treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Intern Med J, 2019. 49(2): p. 225-231.
Research Group
School Research Themes
Key Contact
For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.
Department / Centre
Node
St Vincent's Hospital
MDHS Research library
Explore by researcher, school, project or topic.