[Irritable colon and non-ulcer dyspepsia. Functional (somatoform) disorders of the gastrointestinal tract]

Among the functional (somatization) disorders seen in internal and general medicine, irritable colon and non-ulcerous dyspepsia are the most prevalent, forming the largest group of patients with gastroenterological problems. Psychosomatic aspects and the efficacy of psychotherapeutic measures are discussed, and common concurrent forms of morbidity presented. Functional disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract frequently prove to be the "chronicized" leading symptoms of a so-called somatization disorder (ICD-10 classification).