While some individuals take medication for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers have discovered there may be a safer alternative to treating the condition.

According to a new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, patients who were treated with behavioral therapy had a positive response to treatment within the first four weeks.

The participants were asked to attend 10 weekly one-hour sessions on cognitive behavior or four, one-hour sessions over the span of 10 weeks. It was found that 95 percent of participants experienced a positive response by the three-month follow-up.

“Patients who quickly achieve treatment gains – for example, IBS symptom relief – may be spared the cost and inconvenience of follow-up care of little therapeutic value,” said researcher Jeffrey M. Lackner, PsyD. “This scenario may lead to the development of self-guided treatments based on multimedia technology, such as Web, DVD and smartphone, and free up trained clinicians to focus on more severely affected patients.”

Patients who experience IBS may want to consider behavior therapy as a cost-efficient way to treat the problem, the scientists suggest.