Efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Inclusion Criteria:

• English-speaking

• 18 years or older

• Meet Rome IV criteria, as diagnosed either by a licensed physician or viaself-report using the Rome IBS questionnaire, for IBS for any type: IBS-C (IBS withconstipation), IBS-D (IBS with diarrhea), and IBS-M (mixed-type IBS)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals with a comorbid disorder that may confound the diagnosis of IBS,including:

• celiac disease

• inflammatory bowel disease

• autoimmune disorders that affect the GI system

• history of bowel resection

• HIV/AIDS ( human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)

• diabetes with HgA1c>7.0

• neuroendocrine tumors

• microscopic colitis

• lactase deficiency

• eosinophilic bowel disease

• acute intermittent porphyria

• any other condition that a licensed physician believes can mimic IBS symptoms andundermine diagnostic certitude

• Patients using regular doses of opioid medications will also be excluded given theoften-severe impact of opioids on GI motility and potential for pharmacologicalvisceral hyperalgesia

• No WiFi at home

• Any history of seizure

• Ongoing treatment for a GI cancer

• Major audiovisual impairment (complete blindness, deafness)

• Inability to understand English at 6th grade level

• Any events planned over the 8 weeks of the study that could end your ability toparticipate in the study, such as a medical procedure, vacation, or change inresidence (Note: the study team can always delay enrollment)