Pharmacopsychiatry
DOI: 10.1055/a-2331-7684
Review

Management of Refractory Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: What Role Should Psychiatrists Have?

Mohsen Khosravi
1   Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
2   Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
,
Abdullah A. Alzahrani
3   Department of Orthopedic and Spine Surgeon, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
,
Thikra M. Muhammed
4   Department of Biotechnology, College of Applied Sciences, University of Fallujah, Al-anbar, Iraq
,
Ahmed Hjazi
5   Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
,
Huda H. Abbas
6   National University of Science and Technology, Dhi Qar, Iraq
,
Mervat A. AbdRabou
7   Department of Biology, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
,
Karrar H. Mohmmed
8   Scientific Research Center, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
,
Pallavi Ghildiyal
9   Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
,
Alexey Yumashev
10   Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
,
Ahmed Elawady
11   College of technical engineering, the Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
12   College of technical engineering, the Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
13   College of technical engineering, the Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
,
Sahel Sarabandi
14   Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Currently, it has been stated that psychiatric and psychological problems are equally paramount aspects of the clinical modulation and manifestation of both the central nervous and digestive systems, which could be used to restore balance. The present narrative review aims to provide an elaborate description of the bio-psycho-social facets of refractory functional gastrointestinal disorders, psychiatrists’ role, specific psychiatric approach, and the latest psychiatric and psychological perspectives on practical therapeutic management. In this respect, “psyche,” “psychiatry,” “psychology,” “psychiatrist,” “psychotropic,” and “refractory functional gastrointestinal disorders” (as the keywords) were searched in relevant English publications from January 1, 1950, to March 1, 2024, in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Eventually, the narrative technique was adopted to reach a compelling story with a high level of cohesion through material synthesis. The current literature recognizes the brain-gut axis modulation as a therapeutic target for refractory functional gastrointestinal disorders and the bio-psycho-social model as an integrated framework to explain disease pathogenesis. The results also reveal some evidence to affirm the benefits of psychotropic medications and psychological therapies in refractory functional gastrointestinal disorders, even when psychiatric symptoms were absent. It seems that psychiatrists are required to pay higher levels of attention to both the assessment and treatment of patients with refractory functional gastrointestinal disorders, accompanied by educating and training practitioners who take care of these patients.



Publication History

Received: 05 January 2024
Received: 03 May 2024

Accepted: 10 May 2024

Article published online:
19 June 2024

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