section name header

Table 149-1

Diagnostic Criteria for Irritable Bowel Syndromea

Recurrent abdominal pain or discomfortb at least 3 days per month in the last 3 months associated with two or more of the following:

  1. Improvement with defecation
  2. Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool
  3. Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool

aCriteria fulfilled for the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months before diagnosis.

bDiscomfort means an uncomfortable sensation not described as pain. In pathophysiology research and clinical trials, a pain/discomfort frequency of at least 2 days a week during screening evaluation is required for subject eligibility.

Source: Adapted from Longstreth GF et al: Functional bowel disorders. Gastroenterology 130:1480, 2006.