Harnessing Placebo Effects: Non-Deceptive Use of Placebo in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Seventy patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) will be randomized to either 1) placebo
pill or 2) no treatment and followed for 3 weeks. The study will involve three visits:
baseline, midpoint and end point. At baseline all patients will physical examination, be
evaluated for IBS and be administered standardized IBS questionnaires including: "IBS
adequate relief" questionnaire, IBS global symptom improvement scale, IBS quality of life
and IBS symptom severity scale. At midpoint and endpoint the same questionnaires will be
administered. Patients on no treatment will be offered education on managing IBS at the
end of the study.