Lesley A Houghton, Margaret Heitkemper, Michael Crowell, Anton Emmanuel, Albena Halpert, James A McRoberts, Brenda Toner
Patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) often experience distress, reduced quality of life, a perceived lack of validation, and an unsatisfactory experience with health care providers. A health care provider can provide the patient with a framework in which to understand and legitimize their symptoms, remove self-doubt or blame, and identify factors that contribute to symptoms that the patient can influence or control. This framework is implemented with the consideration of important factors that impact FGIDs, such as gender, age, society, and the patient's perspective...
February 15, 2016: Gastroenterology