ABSTRACT
Chronic episodic pain is the commonest presenting complaint in functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD) such as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). These conditions are characterized by recurrent, unexplained symptoms for which extensive investigations often fail to identify a cause. FGD are among the most common medical conditions seen in primary care as well as gastroenterology clinics. Symptoms often lead to recurrent attendances in hospital, poor patient satisfaction, and significant morbidity. Health care costs are estimated to be around $34 billion in the seven largest western economies (1,2). Despite intense research, our understanding of the mechanisms of pain in these patients remains far from complete.
