Treatment of Functional GI Disorders With Psychotropic Medicines: A Review of Evidence With a Practical Approach.
Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are complex in their physiology and clinical presentation. With no known biologic marker, investigators and clinicians use the Rome criteria to make a positive diagnosis. Psychosocial factors, although not part of these criteria, do contribute to illness presentation, severity, healthcare-seeking behavior and response to treatment. In this regard, psychoactive drugs are valuable in the management of FGIDs, particularly for patients with severe symptoms. The appropriate selection of antidepressants based on predominant symptom, side-effect profile, and psychological condition is an integral part of a successful management program.
Dr. Thiwan serves as a Gastroenterology fellow and Dr. Drossman as Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
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Thiwan
Dr. Thiwan serves as a Gastroenterology fellow and Dr. Drossman as Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
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Drossman
antidepressants; central effects; functional gastrointestinal disorders; psychoactive drugs; visceral analgesic effects