Mind/Body Medicine and IBD Flare-Up

Methods: We will enroll 100 subjects in a Phase I/IIa randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects will be assigned to one of two Mind/Body courses, each of which will be held once a week for 8 consecutive weeks. Each class will last 1.5-2 hours.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of moderately severe Ulcerative Colitis
• Age 18-70
• Must have inactive disease at the time of recruitment, with at least one documented disease flare-up within the past 2 years.
• Must be on either no IBD medication or have been on a stable dose of any of the following medications for the specified amount of time: Mesalamine or Sulfasalazine for at least 6 weeks; Remicade for at least 10 weeks; Imuran or Mercaptopurine at stable and unchanged dose for at least 8 weeks.

Exclusion criteria

• Active Ulcerative Colitis or daily rectal bleeding for 7 days
• Taking oral steroids within 30 days of enrollment, topical agents (steroids or 5-ASA) within 14 days,immunomodulators such as Methotrexate or Imuran/6-MP and Infliximab within 90 days
• History of colon resection
• Antibiotics use within the previous 14 days
• Pregnant or lactating women
• Significant chronic disorders like severe cardiac disease (NY functional state score>3), renal disease (creatinine>3 mg/dL), pulmonary disease (shortness of breath at rest or need for oxygen use), active infection, or other organ system disease requiring medical visits > 3 times /year