ABSTRACT
Humans have always been fascinated by what they eat, what they excrete and the disorders that upset their gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. Prior to commencing adjunctive psychotherapy, the therapist must have a clear concept of functional GI disorders from multiple perspectives. The astute clinician considering a history of chest pain in combination with symptoms of difficulty in swallowing solids, heartburn, or regurgitation will recognize that these symptoms are commonly found in individuals who have esophageal motility disorders. An individual is more or less prone to anxiety and worry, or more or less outgoing, energetic, and high-spirited. Many individuals in the control group that received standard medical treatment were offered psychotherapeutic treatment after the first 3 months of follow-up. Effective psychotherapy for functional GI disorders need not be on an individual basis. Patients with functional GI disorders frequently present with a history of prior psychiatric illness.
