Zubin Dev Sharma¹, Rinkesh Kumar Bansal², Gourdas Choudhuri³ Sujeet Narayan Charugulla⁴*, Sony Agarwal⁵, Arim Khan⁶, N V N P Sai Sarath Chan⁶ and Shrikrishna Dharurkar⁶

¹Senior Consultant, Department of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Sciences, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram
²Additional Director, Department of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Sciences, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram
³Chairman, Department of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Sciences, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram
⁴Cluster Head, Medical Affairs, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad, India
⁵Medical Advisor, Medical Affairs, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad, India
⁶Regional Medical Advisor, Medical Affairs, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad, India

*Corresponding Author: Sujeet Narayan Charugulla, Cluster Head, Medical Affairs, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad, India.

Received: April 29, 2025; Published:June 20, 2025

Abstract

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, including diarrhoea, constipation, or both. It affects millions worldwide and can significantly reduce quality of life. The estimated prevalence of IBS in India is 4-8%. [5] Although pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments exist, many patients do not achieve sufficient symptom relief, highlighting the need for complementary or alternative approaches. Digital therapeutics (DTx) are software-driven, evidence-based interventions designed to prevent, manage, or treat medical disorders. They are particularly well-suited for chronic conditions like IBS, where behavioural, psychological, and lifestyle factors play a significant role. This review compared studies and clinical trials from the past five years to analyze the effectiveness of DTx interventions in IBS management. The characteristics of DTx included cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dietary modification, gut-directed hypnotherapy, virtual education, and real-time symptom tracking. The future of DTx in IBS lies in delivering personalized and multimodal therapies. It has the great potential to revolutionize IBS management in India by providing accessible, personalized, and cost-effective solutions. However, DTx adoption for IBS management faces a few challenges that include limited digital literacy, and cultural stigma around bowel health. Overcoming these challenges with the advancements in AI, wearable devices, and immersive technologies can enhance engagement and outcomes. At the same time, broader clinical validation can drive scalable, cost-effective, and holistic management.

Keywords: Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Diet; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Digital Therapeutics; Gastrointestinal Disorder

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Citation

Citation: Rinkesh Kumar Bansal., et al. “Role and Effectiveness of Digital Therapeutics in the Non-Pharmacological Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in India and Abroad".Acta Scientific Gastrointestinal Disorders 8.7 (2025): 20-27.

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Copyright: © 2025 Rinkesh Kumar Bansal., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.