The challenge of irritable bowel syndrome: creating an alliance between patient and physician

Cleve Clin J Med. 2001 Mar;68(3):224-5, 229-33, 236-7. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.68.3.224.

Abstract

The most important component of the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is to establish a therapeutic physician-patient relationship, coupled with patient education. We describe a stepwise approach to management, including judicious use of invasive tests, and setting realistic treatment goals that address the dominant symptoms, their severity, and psychosocial factors.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antidiarrheals / therapeutic use
  • Carbolines / administration & dosage
  • Carbolines / therapeutic use
  • Cholinergic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Colonic Diseases, Functional* / diagnosis
  • Colonic Diseases, Functional* / psychology
  • Colonic Diseases, Functional* / therapy
  • Constipation / drug therapy
  • Constipation / etiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diarrhea / drug therapy
  • Diarrhea / etiology
  • Diet
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Gastrointestinal Motility
  • Humans
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Parasympatholytics / therapeutic use
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Psychotherapy
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Serotonin Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Serotonin Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antidiarrheals
  • Carbolines
  • Cholinergic Antagonists
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Indoles
  • Parasympatholytics
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • alosetron
  • tegaserod