[Functional gastrointestinal diseases. More reliable diagnosis using new criteria. Modification required in primary...

The diagnosis of functional gastrointestinal disorders is symptom based. New viewpoints go beyond the old concept of a disease-based reductionistic model, according to which effort is directed toward identifying a single underlying biological etiology, to a more integrated biopsychosocial model of illness. "Rome II: A Multinational Consensus Document on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders" is an attempt to condense present knowledge into a practical systematic manual. Whereas the ordinary clinician may benefit from it in the understanding of the often confusing accumulation of alternating bowel complaints, its main area of application will be international studies. It will also serve as a basis for taking the concept of functional gastrointestinal disorders further.