Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society
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Neurogastroenterol. Motil. · Jun 2015
ReviewIrritable bowel syndrome: an integrated explanatory model for clinical practice.
Although irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a symptom-based diagnosis, clinicians' management of and communication about the disorder is often hampered by an unclear conceptual understanding of the nature of the problem. We aimed to elucidate an integrated explanatory model (EM) for IBS from the existing literature for pragmatic use in the clinical setting. ⋯ It was possible to elucidate an integrated, three-component EM as a basis for clinicians to conceptualize the nature of IBS, with the potential to contribute to better diagnosis and management, and dialog with sufferers.