Overview

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, often debilitating gastrointestinal disorder that occurs in approximately 10% of adults in Europe and North America (World Gastrointestinal Disorder Global Guideline, 2009). The primary symptoms of IBS are chronic abdominal pain and discomfort associated with a change in bowel function (Rome III Diagnostic Criteria, 2012), but symptoms are often variable and do not have any evident peripheral pathology. Irritable bowel syndrome is thought to be multifactorial in its etiology, and it is best understood from a biopsychosocial perspective (Drossman, 1998). However, many facets of the disorder remain unclear, which makes it difficult to find successful treatments. As a consequence, many patients with IBS have high health-care costs (Longstreth et al., 2003), and struggle with daily functioning and quality of life (Frank et al., 2002). There is a substantial body of literature indicating that stressful life events (e.g., abuse, divorce, relationship difficulties, and business failures) are common among patients with IBS (Bennett, Tennant, Piesse, Badcock, & Kellow, 1998; Roelofs & Spinehoven, 2007). In addition, daily hassles are associated with an increase in gastrointestinal symptoms (Levy, Cain, Jarrett, & Heitkemper, 1997). Stressors, whether significant life events or recurrent daily hassles, may dysregulate gastrointestinal functioning through the brain-gut axis, which links brain systems that mediate cognition and emotion to the gastrointestinal system (Chang, 2011; Mayer, Naliboff, Chang, & Coutinho, 2001; Mayer, 2000).

Full Product Details

9798869156266

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available