title: Pain perception in irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by chronic abdominal discomfort or pain in the absence of detectable organic disease. IBS is common and is associated with a significant impairment in health-related quality of life. Enhanced perception of visceral stimuli ("visceral hypersensitivity") appears to be an important pathophysiological mechanism. Early IBS studies using functional brain imaging techniques suggest an alteration in central pain modulation circuits, rather than an increased sensitivity of peripheral visceral pain pathways. The frequent comorbidity with psychiatric disorders suggests the possibility of shared pathophysiological mechanisms and etiologic factors.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neurovisceral Sciences and Women's Health, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, 11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073, USA. ktillisch@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tillisch
authors.forename: Emeran A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000294:innervation; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications