The Experience Sampling Method—Evaluation of treatment effect of escitalopram in IBS with comorbid panic disorder
Confirming treatment response in clinical trials for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is challenging, due to the lack of biomarkers and limitations of the currently available symptom assessment tools. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) might overcome these limitations by collecting digital assessments randomly and repeatedly during daily life. This study evaluated differences in change in abdominal pain between real‐time (ie, ESM) and retrospective (ie, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale [GSRS] and an end‐of‐day symptom diary) measurements, using data of an RCT on escitalopram vs placebo in patients with IBS and comorbid panic disorder.