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Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Chapter
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Diarrhea

Part of the book series: Clinical Gastroenterology ((CG))

  • 2009 Accesses

Summary

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal syndrome characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence of an organic cause. One of the four subtypes is IBS with diarrhea, defined as loose or watery stools ≥25% of bowel movements and hard or lumpy stools ≤25% of bowel movements. The diagnostic approach to patients with IBS symptoms and no “alarm” signs includes a complete history and physical examination and a limited number of diagnostic studies to rule out organic illness.

The focus of treatment should be on symptom relief and addressing the patient’s concerns. The most important component is the establishment of a strong, therapeutic physician–patient relationship. Other elements include pateient education, dietary modifications, pharmacologic agents and, in selected patients, behavioral treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and dynamic psychotherapy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology UWHC-H6/516, 750 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705-2221, USA

    Arnold Wald MD, MACG, AGAF

Authors
  1. Arnold Wald MD, MACG, AGAF
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Celiac Disease Center, Div. Pediatric Gastroenterology,, University of Chicago, S. Maryland Ave. 5839, Chicago, 60637, Illinois, USA

    Stefano Guandalini

  2. Health Center, Div. Gastroenterology, University of Connecticut, Farmington Ave. 263, Farmington, 06030-1845, Connecticut, USA

    Haleh Vaziri

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Wald, A. (2010). Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In: Guandalini, S., Vaziri, H. (eds) Diarrhea. Clinical Gastroenterology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-183-7_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-183-7_19

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-182-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-183-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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