American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

The following guidelines, based on a comprehensive review,1 were developed as an update to assist the physician in the clinical understanding, diagnosis, and management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). They may also be of assistance to allied health care professionals, the pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory agencies. IBS is a functional bowel disorder characterized by symptoms of abdominal pain or discomfort and associated with disturbed defecation.2 The syndrome is understood in terms of multiple physiological determinants contributing to a common set of symptoms rather than as a single disease entity. Current and future diagnostic approaches and treatments will depend on identifying the specific pathophysiological subgroups contributing to these symptoms.