Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

10:37
Perturbations of Circulating miRNAs in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Detected Using a Multiplexed High-throughput Gene Expression Platform
Published on: November 30, 2016
Irritable bowel syndrome: classification and pathogenesis.
Annual Review of Medicine
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gut motility disorder influenced by emotional tension. While its exact causes remain unclear, psychological factors and learned behaviors play a role in IBS patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Background:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent chronic disorder affecting gut motility.
- It impacts approximately 15% of the population in developed nations.
- Symptoms are linked to physiological changes associated with emotional tension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
- To investigate the relationship between emotional tension and IBS symptoms.
- To identify potential differentiating factors in IBS patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of current knowledge on neurohumoral control of gut motility.
- Analysis of clinical features and patient behaviors in IBS.
- Comparison of IBS patients with non-patients regarding life changes and illness behavior.
Main Results:
- No pathognomonic features for IBS have been identified despite advances in understanding gut motility.
- Emotional tension is a principal driver of both intestinal and extraintestinal IBS symptoms.
- IBS patients often exhibit psychoneurotic traits and differ in learned illness behavior and experience of severe life changes.
Conclusions:
- The pathophysiology of IBS is complex, involving interplay between physiological and psychological factors.
- Learned illness behaviors and significant life changes may contribute to the manifestation and severity of IBS.
- Further research is needed to elucidate specific diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for IBS.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by functional disturbances in the gastrointestinal system, presenting a cluster of symptoms without evident structural or biochemical abnormalities. It primarily affects the large intestine and may cause abdominal pain, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, constipation, or both.
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon characterized by continuous mucosal inflammation that typically begins in the rectum and extends proximally in a uniform pattern. Its pathogenesis involves a complex interplay of genetic predisposition, immune dysregulation, and environmental influences. These factors converge to impair the colon’s epithelial defenses and promote an exaggerated inflammatory response against luminal contents.Breakdown of the Mucosal BarrierA...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by segmental, transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its pathogenesis arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. Together, these factors lead to an exaggerated immune response against components of the gut microbiome.Genetic and Environmental InfluencesMultiple genetic...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
DefinitionIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by recurrent combinations of abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.Pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndromeIts pathophysiology is multifactorial, involving disturbances in motility, sensory processing, microbial balance, barrier integrity, and gut–brain communication. These mechanisms interact to produce symptoms that vary across IBS subtypes.Altered Motility PatternsDisordered...

