Irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic and fluctuating functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and discomfort and accompanying altered bowel habit. The prevalence of IBS is estimated at about 10-13% in the United States. The etiology of IBS is poorly understood, but the relations noted between stress, heightened sensitivity to stimuli and gastrointestinal symptoms has been labeled by gastroenterologists and psychologists alike as the brain-gut axis, and has increasingly allowed for the acceptance of psychological interventions for IBS. This chapter attempts to offer the clinician some general, evidence-based guidelines for the assessment and treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. Special emphasis is given to the use of hypnotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating these disorders. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.