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App-Based therapy shows promise for IBS relief
NCT ID NCT04665271
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a smartphone app called Zemedy, which delivers cognitive-behavioral therapy, can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms in adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Over 450 participants used either Zemedy or a relaxation training app for comparison. The goal was to see if a digital, self-guided therapy is an acceptable and effective way to manage IBS.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Zemedy app (digital cognitive-behavioral therapy)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a convenient, app-based way to manage IBS symptoms and improve quality of life without medication.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed trial comparing two apps, not a new drug. Results may show only modest benefits, and the app may not work for everyone with IBS.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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453 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2021
- Finished
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May 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Self-report of physician diagnosis of IBS. * At least 18 years of age. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe depression or suicidality * Comorbid GI disorder such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease. * Pregnancy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6018, United States
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