Efficacy of a CBT Self-Help App (Zemedy) Versus an Education, Relaxation, and Mindfulness App for IBS: Results from Post-Treatment, 3-Month, and 6-Month Follow-Up.

In 30 seconds

This randomized controlled trial compared the Zemedy self-help cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) app with an active app providing education, lifestyle management, relaxation, and mindfulness for people with irritable bowel syndrome. Of 267 participants who downloaded an assigned app, 136 received CBT and 131 the control. At post-treatment, intention-to-treat analyses found significantly greater improvement with CBT in both primary outcomes—IBS symptom severity and quality of life—and in secondary outcomes except depression. Improvements were reported as maintained at 3 and 6 months, but follow-up attrition was considerable.

Key findings

• At post-treatment, CBT produced significantly greater improvement than the active control in IBS symptom severity and IBS quality of life.
• CBT improved secondary outcomes more than control except depression; the control group improved on all outcomes except fear of food.
• Gains were maintained at 3 and 6 months, although follow-up numbers declined to 65 and 32, respectively.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that app-delivered self-help CBT may offer benefits beyond education, relaxation, and mindfulness, including for psychological factors associated with IBS. The active comparator also improved on several outcomes, underscoring that symptom-management education and relaxation-based content may be useful components. The results support further consideration of digital CBT while highlighting uncertainty from attrition and unmeasured app engagement.

What to keep in mind

Follow-up attrition was considerable, and the study did not collect data on app engagement.