Behavioral medicine approaches to gastrointestinal disorders.

Approximately half of the patients who consult gastroenterologists are diagnosed as having functional disorders for which behavioral medicine techniques may be the most effective treatment. Research has already established that biofeedback and habit training are the best available treatments for 2 common types of fecal incontinence and that behavioral management of life-threatening rumination syndrome in children is superior to alternative medical and surgical treatment. Preliminary studies suggest that biofeedback and stress management training will also provide effective methods of treating irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer, and esophageal spasm. Promising areas of research include behavioral training techniques for fecal incontinence in demented geriatric patients, treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, and biofeedback investigation of the basic physiology of the gastrointestinal system. (87 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)