AGA quality guidelines recommend gut-directed hypnotherapy as a key intervention for overcoming barriers to IBS care

This marks a significant shift, reaffirming what research has long demonstrated: as a disorder of gut-brain interaction, IBS requires targeted interventions that address this mechanism directly for effective management.

For healthcare providers, this update is particularly impactful as it strengthens the clinical validity of brain-gut behavior therapies while acknowledging the structural and logistical barriers that limit patient access.

The AGA quality indicators now recognize these limitations and highlight digital therapeutics as a scalable, evidence-based adjunct that improves access to guideline-supported interventions without overburdening existing healthcare infrastructure.

AGA’s endorsement of brain–gut behavior therapies

The new AGA quality indicators, developed in collaboration with the Rome Foundation, emphasize the need for providers to recognize the gut-brain connection and either perform or refer patients to behavioral therapies like GDH or cognitive behavioral therapy. 

However, they also recognize that access to qualified specialists is limited and note that digital therapeutic options are available to help address these barriers. Some of these digital solutions, including app-based GDH like Nerva, are already clinically validated, reinforcing their credibility as scalable IBS management options.

By addressing key barriers to access, digital therapeutics offer several advantages:

• They provide clinically supported, guideline-based care, with digital options for GDH and CBT now acknowledged in AGA quality indicators.
• Their scalability and accessibility enable providers to integrate behavioral therapies into multidisciplinary care without the limitations of therapist availability.
• They are cost-effective, with many app-based interventions offering a lower-cost alternative to in-person therapy, reducing financial barriers for patients.

With these benefits, digital therapeutics can help more patients access the evidence-based care they need.

Reducing referral challenges

The inclusion of digital therapeutics in AGA guidelines reflects a broader shift toward accessible, evidence-based IBS management. As brain–gut behavior therapies gain further recognition, digital solutions provide a practical way to offer effective interventions without the limitations of specialist availability.

For providers, this means more management options that align with clinical best practices while improving patient access to high-quality care. By incorporating digital therapeutics into IBS management, clinicians can better support patients in addressing the gut-brain connection with scalable, guideline-supported interventions.

To integrate Nerva into your IBS care plans, refer patients here.

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