Psychological assessment and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.

Nishimura et al. (1987) pulled together early trials on irritable bowel syndrome. They looked at a package of relaxation, hand-warming biofeedback, and cognitive coping skills.

The paper is a narrative review, not a new experiment. It sums up what several small studies found before 1987.

The package helped about half of the IBS patients. Success meant fewer stomach cramps and less time on the toilet.

The authors saw 50–60% improvement across the little studies they reviewed.

Williams et al. (2023) and Ludwig et al. (2023) also write narrative reviews for practitioners, but they focus on ABA topics—feeding and workplace safety. All three papers aim to give clinicians a quick map of what works.

Niedfeld et al. (2020) and Biagioli et al. (2025) look at gut-brain links in autism. Like B et al., they connect belly problems with behavior, yet they talk about microbiota, not relaxation training.

No direct clash exists. The 1987 review stays useful as a snapshot of pre-ABA gut-behavior work, while the newer papers show how far the field has moved toward biological markers and telehealth.

If you serve clients with stomach pain and no clear medical cause, remember that stress makes guts act up. You can borrow the old trio—relaxation, biofeedback, and coping self-talk—and fold it into your behavior plan. Track cramps and bathroom trips as data. The 50–60% win rate gives you a realistic target to share with parents or adult clients.