Albena Halpert

TL;DR: An overview of the recent research on how the complex interactions of environmental, psychological, and biological factors contribute to the development and maintenance of the functional gastrointestinal disorders from a biopsychosocial perspective is provided.

TL;DR: Many patients hold misconceptions about IBS being caused by dietary habits, developing into cancer, colitis, causing malnutrition, or worsening with age; patients most often seek information about dietary changes; and educational needs may be different for persons using the internet for medical information.

TL;DR: Although the majority of FGIDs, including globus, rumination syndrome, IBS, bloating, constipation, functional abdominal pain, sphincter of Oddi dyskinesia, pelvic floor dysfunction, and extra-intestinal manifestations, are more prevalent in women than men, functional chest pain, dyspepsia, vomiting, and anorectal pain do not appear to vary by gender.

TL;DR: Detectible blood levels of DES are associated with a clinical response in FBD, however, with dosages up to 150 mg, there is no relationship between total dose or plasma level and the clinical response.

TL;DR: An understanding of the biopsychosocial model of illness requires a shift from concepts traditionally taught in Western medical schools to that of multicausality, where biologic and psychologic factors interact to determine the disease and its experience or illness.