Functional disorder

Functional disorder is a medical condition that impairs normal functioning of bodily processes, but where every part of the body looks completely normal under examination, dissection or even under a microscope. This stands in contrast to structural disorders (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease in the case of the bowel) in which the abnormality can be seen and measured.

Definition

Functional disorders, also known as disorders of gut-brain interaction, are classified by gastrointestinal symptoms related to any combination of the following: motility disturbance, visceral hypersensitivity, altered mucosal and immune function, altered gut microbiota, and altered central nervous system processing.

Examples

Examples of functional disorders include irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, and functional abdominal pain syndrome. These disorders are grouped by the primary symptom; however, overlap among disorders is more the rule than the exception.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of a functional disorder may involve a process of exclusion since there is no specific test for confirmation. This can be a complex process that requires time, patience, and a strong doctor-patient relationship.

Treatment

Treatment of functional disorders is often aimed at symptom control. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of symptoms, the presence of psychosocial complications, and the patient's response to initial therapy.

See also

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Functional dyspepsia
• Functional abdominal pain syndrome