====== Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) ======

>The most common condition seen in gastrointestinal outpatient clinics is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which has a prevalence rate of 14-24% in women and 5-19% in men. [...] __There is no known structural or anatomical explanation that accounts for the pathophysiology, and the exact cause remains unknown"__
>\\ Source : [[https://www.nursingtimes.net/clinical-subjects/gastroenterology/individual-treatment-for-irritable-bowel-syndrome/5047368.fullarticle|Nursing Times]]

It's generally considered to be a disorder of the brain-gut axis, //viz.// the disruption of communication between the brain and the digestive system.

It //is// known that infections, anxiety, and depression can significantly increase the risk of developing IBS.

Drug treatments are wide-ranging - from proton-pump inhibitors to antispasmodics and anti-depressants - perhaps reflecting the lack of understanding of the condition.

Other researchers classify it as a 'phychosocial' condition, which can be better treated with a psychological approach - e.g. talking therapies, hypnosis, CBT etc. etc.

Further info :[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irritable_bowel_syndrome|Wikipedia]]

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Also see: [[content:medicine:diseases:r-z:ulcerative_colitis]] and [[content:medicine:diseases:a-f:crohns_disease|Chron's disease]] and [[content:medicine:diseases:m-q:ncgs]]

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