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Keywords

irritable bowel syndrome, individualized treatment, antidepressants, psychotherapy, holistic treatment

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been shown to be associated with psychological symptoms as well as physical. Despite this correlation, physicians are more likely to focus on and provide treatments primarily for the physical aspects of IBS, which may result in a less-than-ideal treatment of the disorder. This literature review examines many IBS-related studies which show the existence of psychological components of IBS and the efficacy of treatment methods based in psychology. The conclusion of this research is that the current medical treatments of IBS are insufficient, and patients would likely see more improvements if physicians were to create a more holistic, individualized treatment plan for each patient by assessing for and treating the psychological aspects of IBS in addition to the physical aspects.

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Psychology Commons

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