title: Cognitive behavioral approach to understanding irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is considered a biopsychosocial disorder, whose onset and precipitation are a consequence of interaction among multiple factors which include motility disturbances, abnormalities of gastrointestinal sensation, gut inflammation and infection, altered processing of afferent sensory information, psychological distress, and affective disturbances. Several models have been proposed in order to describe and explain IBS, each of them focusing on specific aspects or mechanisms of the disorder. This review attempts to present and discuss different determinants of IBS and its symptoms, from a cognitive behavioral therapy framework, distinguishing between the developmental predispositions and precipitants of the disorder, and its perpetuating cognitive, behavioral, affective and physiological factors. The main focus in understanding IBS will be placed on the numerous psychosocial factors, such as personality traits, early experiences, affective disturbances, altered attention and cognitions, avoidance behavior, stress, coping and social support. In conclusion, a symptom perpetuation model is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Goran Hauser, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.affiliation: Goran Hauser, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Sanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pletikosic
authors.affiliation: Goran Hauser, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mladenka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tkalcic
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D004644:Emotions; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D008954:Models, Biological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Anxiety; Attention; Irritable bowel syndrome; Neuroticism; Stress