[Is it irritable bowel syndrome? Validating the diagnosis]

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterised by constant or recurrent abdominal complaints over more than three months, in the absence of any pathological changes in the routinely employed examination procedures. The diagnosis is established on the basis of typical symptoms and specific exclusion of relevant differential diagnoses. The heart of the diagnostic evaluation comprises a limited routine laboratory investigation, and endoscopic exploration to exclude organic disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Diagnostic re-evaluation is necessary only when there is a change in the patient's symptoms. A psychosomatic diagnostic evaluation and, where necessary, psychotherapy is indicated in about 5% of the patients. For IBS, causal treatment is not available. Apart from symptomatic drug treatment, intensive counseling and regular interviews are of particular importance.