Rationality for the Use of Neuromodulation in Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders)

Abstract

Within the broad range of therapeutic options for managing functional gastrointestinal disorders, recently redefined as Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI) by the Rome Foundation in the Rome IV criteria, certain medications with antidepressant, anxiolytic, or antipsychotic effects are commonly employed. These drugs, now referred to as neuromodulators by the Rome Foundation, target the neurogastroenterological dysfunction associated with these disorders. Consequently, their clinical utility as psychiatric medications can now be leveraged to benefit patients with DGBI. This narrative review aims to provide an updated and specific overview of the indications for neuromodulators in the primary DGBI. The first section of this review focuses on the rationale and justification for their use.