Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Overview

Journal Am J Nurs

Specialty Nursing

Date 2017 May 26

PMID 28541989

Citations 28

Authors

Kristen Ronn Weaver

Gail DEramo Melkus

Wendy A Henderson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common, chronic gastrointestinal (GI) condition characterized by disturbances in bowel habits and abdominal pain in the absence of known organic pathology. IBS reduces quality of life and is costly to treat. It is diagnosed using the symptom-based Rome criteria for functional GI disorders, which was recently updated and released as Rome IV. Both physiologic and psychological variables play a role in the etiology of IBS and perpetuate symptoms. Although research has shed light on IBS pathophysiology, therapeutic interventions remain symptom driven, employing both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches. Here, the authors review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of IBS, summarize diagnostic and treatment strategies, and discuss implications for nursing practice.

Citing Articles

Aspects on Self-Reported Symptoms in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Someili A, Mutaen A, Alqahtani A, Mobaraki R, Mutaen Y, Almuhaysin G Gastroenterology Res. 2025; 18(1):31-37.

PMID: 40051890 PMC: 11882227. DOI: 10.14740/gr2010.

Dietary Interventions in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Clinical Outcomes, Microbiota Changes, and Inflammatory Markers.

Shams M, Ahmed J, Umar A, Rehman A, Sohail K, Javed B Cureus. 2024; 16(9):e70568.

PMID: 39483931 PMC: 11524984. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.70568.

Neuroplasticity of the white matter tracts underlying recovery of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome following acupuncture treatment.

Li J, Ng W, Liu Y, Fang X, Wang Z, Pei L Front Neurosci. 2024; 18:1383041.

PMID: 39364438 PMC: 11447489. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1383041.

Long-Term Implicit Epigenetic Stress Information in the Enteric Nervous System and its Contribution to Developing and Perpetuating IBS.

Noemi C, Bob P, Bokkon I Curr Neuropharmacol. 2024; 22(13):2100-2112.

PMID: 38726788 PMC: 11337685. DOI: 10.2174/1570159X22666240507095700.

The Possible Synergistic Pharmacological Effect of an Oral Berberine (BBR) and Curcumin (CUR) Complementary Therapy Alleviates Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): Results from a Real-Life, Routine Clinical Practice Settings-Based Study.

Wade U, Pascual-Figal D, Rabbani F, Ernst M, Albert A, Janssens I Nutrients. 2024; 16(8).

PMID: 38674895 PMC: 11053504. DOI: 10.3390/nu16081204.

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