Chronic Abdominal Pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Chronic Abdominal Pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome are associated with reduced quality of life and satisfaction with care often due to significant and undertreated comorbidities. Neuroimaging has demonstrated heightened limbic system activity which may be modulated with integrative approaches. Patients benefit from a biopsychosocial approach emphasizing education, reassurance and guidance toward individualized care options. Integrative options, including diet, mind-body therapies and acupuncture, improve quality of life and should be integrated based on participatory decision making. Point of care, validated measures, such as the IBS-Symptom Severity Score, are available to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of integrative treatments