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References: IBS and Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction

  1. Rome V Criteria - The Rome Foundation - The official 2026 diagnostic criteria for disorders of gut-brain interaction, including the new IBS wording (recurrent, not continuous, pain or discomfort at least 3 days a month), IBS subtypes, functional dyspepsia, and the pediatric criteria. The pediatric criteria are explained in the Rome V child and adolescent paper (Di Lorenzo C, et al., Gastroenterology, 2026, PubMed ID 41713707), which also notes that these disorders can coexist with other conditions. The older Rome IV criteria page (theromefoundation.org/rome-iv/rome-iv-criteria/), used in most published IBS research, includes the 2016 adult criteria and the separate criteria for children and teens aged 4 to 18.

  2. Definition & Facts for Irritable Bowel Syndrome - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) - Plain-language US government guide to IBS, with linked pages on causes, diagnosis (including warning signs), the low-FODMAP diet, and treatment. Note that its "about 12 percent" prevalence figure is an older, broader estimate from before Rome IV.

  3. Prevalence and Burden of Illness of Rome IV Irritable Bowel Syndrome in the United States - Almario CV, et al. Gastroenterology, 2023 - The national online survey of 88,607 adults that found 6.1% met Rome IV IBS criteria, with mixed-type IBS the most common subtype.

  4. Worldwide Prevalence and Burden of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Results of Rome Foundation Global Study - Sperber AD, et al. Gastroenterology, 2021 - The 33-country study of 73,076 adults showing that more than 40% met criteria for at least one disorder of gut-brain interaction, and that IBS was 4.1% by Rome IV versus 10.1% by Rome III in internet surveys.

  5. ACG Clinical Guideline: Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Lacy BE, et al. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2021 - The American College of Gastroenterology's guideline, which suggests a positive diagnostic strategy, targeted tests for IBS with diarrhea, and gut-directed psychotherapy, and recommends a limited low-FODMAP trial.

  6. Functional gastrointestinal disorders: advances in understanding and management - Black CJ, Drossman DA, Talley NJ, Ruddy J, Ford AC. The Lancet, 2020 - A review explaining the gut-brain mechanisms behind IBS and related disorders, why they are now called disorders of gut-brain interaction, and how stigma affects patients.

  7. Efficacy of a low FODMAP diet in irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and network meta-analysis - Black CJ, Staudacher HM, Ford AC. Gut, 2022 - Combined 13 trials (944 patients) and found the low-FODMAP diet ranked first among diets, while noting that reintroduction was rarely studied.

  8. Efficacy of psychological therapies for irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and network meta-analysis - Black CJ, et al. Gut, 2020 - Combined 41 trials (4,072 adults) and found CBT and gut-directed hypnotherapy had the strongest evidence, with a warning that risk of bias may inflate the benefits.

  9. Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome After Infectious Enteritis - Klem F, et al. Gastroenterology, 2017 - The meta-analysis of 45 studies showing that about 10% of people have IBS a year after a gut infection, and which factors raise the risk.

  10. Placebos without Deception: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Kaptchuk TJ, et al. PLoS ONE, 2010 - The open-access open-label placebo trial analyzed in this chapter's "How to read a gut-brain claim" box. The full text includes the funding statement and the 59% versus 35% adequate-relief result.

  11. Epidemiologic, Clinical, and Psychological Characteristics of Individuals With Self-Reported Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on the Rome V vs Rome IV Criteria - Staller K, et al. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2026 - An early study comparing Rome III, IV, and V in 1,275 UK adults with self-reported IBS; source of this chapter's Read the Data table.

  12. ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain-not otherwise specified in children aged 4-18 years - Groen J, et al. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2025 - The first joint European and North American pediatric treatment guideline for IBS. It reviewed 86 randomized trials, recommends hypnotherapy and CBT as treatment options, and points out major gaps in the evidence for children. Open access.