Brain Gut Behavior Therapies (BGBT) in the Management of IBS

Speaker:  
Laurie Keefer, PhD
Professor
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai Health
Abstract:
Psychological interventions for IBS and other disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) have been renamed brain-gut behavior therapies (BGBTs) to reflect their focus on improving GI symptoms and evidence that they do indeed target specific cognitive, emotional, and behavioral mediators associated with gut-brain dysregulation, which underlies the pathophysiology of most gastrointestinal symptoms- so called “organic” or otherwise.  Furthermore, the term of BGBT is less stigmatizing and increases acceptance for the use of behavioral treatments as part of integrated care for digestive disorders (IBS guidelines for gastroenterologists include BGBT as part of routine treatment guidelines).  Both gastrointestinal medical providers and behavioral health providers have an opportunity to optimize care for disorders of gut-brain interaction, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) through a collaborative integrated approach that begins with an effective patient-GI provider relationship, thoughtful communication about the brain-gut-microbiome axis and, when appropriate, a well-communicated referral to BGBT.