Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders
seen by clinicians in both primary and secondary care. Since publication of the last British
Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guideline in 2007, substantial advances have been made
in understanding its complex pathophysiology, resulting in its re-classification as a disorder
of gut-brain interaction, rather than a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Moreover, there
has been a considerable amount of new evidence published concerning the diagnosis …

The guidelines from the British Society of Gastroenterology were created by a
multidisciplinary panel that included primary care physicians, psychologists, dietitians, and
gastroenterologists. Treatment recommendations were based on systematic reviews, and
other recommendations were based on a comprehensive review of the literature. There are
dozens of recommendations; this POEM outlines the highlights. The guidelines advocate a
pragmatic definition of IBS as at least six months of abdominal pain or discomfort with …