The DOI matches its Crossref record; 23 of the 23 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Irritable bowel syndrome in general practice: prevalence, characteristics, and referral
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Little is known about the prevalence, symptoms, diagnosis, attitude, and referral to specialists of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in general practice. This study aimed to determine these characteristics. METHODS: 3111 patients attending 36 general practitioners (GPs) at six varied locations in and near Bristol, UK, were screened to identify those with a gastrointestinal problem. These patients (n=255) and their doctors were given questionnaires. Six months later the case notes were examined to reach criteria based diagnoses of functional bowel disorders. RESULTS: Of 255 patients with a gastrointestinal complaint, 30% were judged to have IBS and 14% other functional disorders. Compared with 100 patients with an “organic” diagnoses, those with IBS were more often women and more often judged by their GP to be polysymptomatic and to have unexplained symptoms. The majority of patients with IBS (58%) were diagnosed as such by the GP; 22% had other functional diagnoses. Conversely, among 54 patients diagnosed as having IBS by the GPs, the criteria based diagnosis was indeed functional in 91%; only one patient had organic disease (proctitis). More patients with IBS than those with organic disease feared cancer. In most some fear remained after the visit to the doctor. On logistic regression analysis, predictors of referral to a specialist (29% referred) were denial of a role for stress, multiple tests, and frequent bowel movements. CONCLUSIONS: Half the patients with gut complaints seen by GPs have functional disorders. These are usually recognised, and few patients are referred. In IBS, cancer fears often remain, suggesting unconfident diagnosis or inadequate explanation.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Nevertheless, lower gastrointestinal symptoms frequently prompt people to present to primary care, 81 accounting for approximately 1 in 12 of all consultations.82”
From British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (2021) · cites this paper as [82]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Most patients with IBS are diagnosed and managed by general practitioners in community settings and are never referred to secondary care, even if they have ongoing troublesome symptoms.82”
From British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (2021) · cites this paper as [82]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Functional bowel disorders and functional abdominal pain
Thompson, W. G., Longstreth, G. F., Drossman, D. A., Heaton, K. W., Irvine, E. J., & Müller-Lissner, S. A. (1999) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.45.2008.ii43 · Cited by 2,440
Self-citationTowards positive diagnosis of the irritable bowel.
Manning, A. P., Thompson, W., Heaton, K. W., & Morris, A. F. (1978) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.2.6138.653 · Cited by 1,404
Self-citationNon-colonic features of irritable bowel syndrome.
Whorwell, P. J., McCallum, M., Creed, F. H., & Roberts, C. T. (1986) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.27.1.37 · Cited by 473
A diagnostic score for the irritable bowel syndrome. Its value in the exclusion of organic disease.
Kruis, W., Thieme, C., Weinzierl, M., Schüßler, P., Holl, J., & Paulus, W. J. (1984) · PubMed · Cited by 318
A diagnostic score for the irritable bowel syndrome
Kruis, W., Thieme, C., Weinzierl, M., Schüßler, P., Holl, J., & Paulus, W. J. (1984) · Gastroenterology · doi:10.1016/0016-5085(84)90119-7 · Cited by 297
Impact of irritable bowel syndrome on quality of life
Whitehead, W. E., Burnett, C. K., Cook, E. W., & Taub, E. (1996) · Digestive Diseases and Sciences · doi:10.1007/bf02071408 · Cited by 290
Psychiatric Illness and The Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Young, S. J., Alpers, D., Norland, C. C., & Woodruff, R. A. (1976) · Gastroenterology · doi:10.1016/s0016-5085(76)80002-9 · Cited by 275
Psychological significance of the irritable colon syndrome
Hislop, I. G. (1971) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.12.6.452 · Cited by 246
Psychiatric illness and irritable bowel syndrome: a comparison with inflammatory bowel disease
Walker, E. A., Roy‐Byrne, P., Katon, W. J., Li, L., Amos, D., & Jiranek, G. (1990) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.147.12.1656 · Cited by 233
MORBIDITY statistics from general practice.
Logan, W. P. D. (1954) · PubMed · Cited by 214
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Thompson, 1997, Gut complaints in general practice: implications for the currculum [abstract]., Gastroenterology, 112, A46
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 401–476 of 476
Approach to a Child with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Review
Rukunuzzaman, M., Karim, A. B., Mazumder, W., Nurullah, M., Hussain, F., & Sultana, K. (2017) · Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh · doi:10.3329/jninb.v2i1.32969 · Cited by 1
Norlin, A. (2020) · Linköping University medical dissertations · doi:10.3384/diss.diva-170320 · Cited by 1
Gut Microbiota Characteristics in Ulcerative Colitis and other Gastrointestinal Diseases
El-Lehleh, A., Elabd, N. S., Azmy, R. M., Tselepis, C., & Shaheen, W. (2021) · Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases · doi:10.21608/aeji.2021.90989.1167 · Cited by 1
“Some early studies have even estimated a probability of getting a diagnosis of IBS at 30% among those presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms at their GPs [57].”
BackgroundHypnotherapy for functional gastrointestinal disorders
(2005) · Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin · doi:10.1136/dtb.2005.43645 · Cited by 1
Irritable bowel syndrome and its associated factors in adolescents
Fillekes, L., Prayogo, A., Alatas, F. S., & Hegar, B. (2014) · Wahana Riset Akuntansi · doi:10.14238/pi54.6.2014.07 · Cited by 1
Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Iranian Young Adults: A Survey among Medical Students
Semnani, S., Abdolahi, N., Roshandel, G., Besharat, S., Keshtkar, A., ., A. J., ., A. R. F., Kalavi, K., & ., D. M. (2006) · Journal of Medical Sciences(Faisalabad) · doi:10.3923/jms.2006.974.978 · Cited by 1
Plumb, A., & Halligan, S. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-65286-3_5 · Cited by 1
Burden Of Depression Among Individuals With Irritable Bowel Syndrome(IBS) In The Medicaid Population
Bhattacharya, K. (2017) · Cited by 1
Somatoforme Störungen – somatoforme Belastungsstörung und verwandte Störungen
Kapfhammer, H. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-45028-0_74-1 · Cited by 2
KHAN, A., KHAN, Z., BASIT, A., KHAN, M., & ALI, A. (2023) · Biological and Clinical Sciences Research Journal · doi:10.54112/bcsrj.v2023i1.575 · Cited by 1
“About 43% of individuals with IBS report actual symptoms affecting their everyday lives, 34% report fake symptoms, and 23% are unsure (Thompson et al., 2000).”
BackgroundPeripheral and central factors in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome
Posserud, I. (2007) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University) · Cited by 1
Halliez, M. C. M. (2014) · Libraries and Cultural Resources (University of Calgary) · doi:10.11575/prism/27133 · Cited by 1
Alarcón–Fernández, O., Álvarez-Fernández, J.-A., Baudet, J., Pérez-Quintero, R., Río, A. S.-D., Borja-Gutiérrez, E., & Borque‐Barrera, P. (2008) · Medicina Clínica · doi:10.1157/13121101 · Cited by 1
Faresjö, Å. (2006) · Cited by 1
Oplosbare of niet-oplosbare vezels: wat werkt beter bij het prikkelbaredarmsyndroom?
Bijkerk, C. J., de Wit, N. J., Hoes, A. W., Muris, J. W. M., Knottnerus, J. A., & Whorwell, P. J. (2010) · Huisarts en Wetenschap · doi:10.1007/s12445-010-0087-3 · Cited by 1
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and the Joint Hypermobility Syndrome
Fikree, A. (2013) · Cited by 1
Ford, A., Moayyedi, P., & Talley, N. (2010) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781444314403.ch21
Spiller, R. E. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118321386.ch62 · Cited by 1
Wang, J., Li, H., Zhang, W., Ma, F., Zhang, X., & Wang, Y. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1423103/v1 · Cited by 1
Irritable bowel syndrome in Norway
Vandvik, P. O. (2006) · BIBSYS Brage (BIBSYS (Norway)) · Cited by 1
Larsson, M. H. (2007) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University)
Ojo ciego y doloroso/ Opciones terapéuticas
Nájera, F. C., Girón, M. P., Noguez, S. D. H., & Meneses, R. C. (2008) · Dolor, clínica y terapia
Interface between Primary Care and Secondary Care
Coleman, N. S., & Everitt, H. (2013) · doi:10.1002/9781118444689.ch6
Orfanos, C. E., & Garbe, C. (2002) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-56219-8_49
PATHOGENETIC MECHANISMS IN IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Törnblom, H. (2007) · Figshare
Assessing the risk of irritable bowel syndrome one year post-acute gastroenteritis
Kowalcyk, B. B. (2011)
Practical Approach to Clinical Assessment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Spiller, R. E., & Lam, C. (2013) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118444689.ch5
Capsule endoscopy in the diagnosis of small bowel disease
Höög, C. (2013) · Figshare
Ringström, G. (2008) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University)
Gastrointestinal motility and the role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Hammar, O. (2013) · Lund University Publications (Lund University)
¿La fibra mejora o empeora el síndrome del intestino irritable?
Perona, M. C. (2009) · Gastroenterología y Hepatología · doi:10.1016/j.gastrohep.2008.11.003
Let op zorgwekkende zorgmijders
Slockers, M. T. (2010) · Huisarts en Wetenschap · doi:10.1007/s12445-010-0100-x
Bengtsson, M., & Ohlsson, B. (2010) · Gastroenterology Insights · doi:10.4081/gi.2010.e10
“A 100% specificity of criteria for IBS would be impossible as IBS-like symptoms are also common in organic diseases, but organic disease excludes IBS diagnosis.(1) IBS-like symptoms are found in high prevalence in patients suffering from IBD.”
BackgroundInfluentialHirata, T., Funatsu, T., Keto, Y., Akuzawa, S., Akiho, H., Nishida, A., Sasamata, M., & Miyata, K. (2009) · Folia Pharmacologica Japonica · doi:10.1254/fpj.133.281
Does This Patient Have Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
Sherbino, J. (2009) · Annals of Emergency Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2009.01.032
Prikkelbaredarmsyndroom: zelfmanagement met een pocketcomputer
Oerlemans, S., van Cranenburgh, O. V., Herremans, P.-J., Spreeuwenberg, P., & van Dulmen, S. (2012) · Huisarts en Wetenschap · doi:10.1007/s12445-012-0057-z
Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction: Does Psychosocial Distress Play a Role?
Kovács, Z., Kovács, F., Pap, Á., & Czobor, P. (2007) · Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings · doi:10.1007/s10880-007-9059-6
Okami, Y., Nin, G., Harada, K., Iwasa, M., Kitaoka, K., Saruwatari, A., Aoi, W., Wada, S., Kimura, M., Asano, H., et al. (2013) · Open Journal of Gastroenterology · doi:10.4236/ojgas.2013.38058
Síndrome de intestino irritable en pacientes con síndrome dispéptico menores de 55 años
Bujanda, L., Uriarte, I., Muñoz, C., Sánchez, A., Iriondo, C., Gil-Molet, A., & Alkiza, M. E. (2003) · Anales de Medicina Interna · doi:10.4321/s0212-71992003000700005
Jones, M., Walker, M. M., Ford, A. C., & Talley, N. J. (2014) · Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1111/apt.12961
THE EMOTIONAL MOTOR SYSTEM AND GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS
Karling, P. (2008) · DiVA at Umeå University (Umeå University)
Simrén, M. (2009) · Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology · doi:10.1177/1756283x09337569
“1995] and constitute a significant part of the workload for both gastroenterologists and primary care physicians [Thompson et al. 2000; Harvey et al. 1983].”
BackgroundWOMEN WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME Aspects of quality of life and health
Bengtsson, M. (2006) · Lund University Publications (Lund University)
Implementation of Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome In Clinical Practice
Lindfors, P. (2012) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University)
Syndrome du côlon irritable: Les traitements complémentaires et de médecine douce sont-ils utiles?
Birtwhistle, R. (2009) · PubMed Central
An antiemetic for irritable bowel syndrome?
Levy, R. J., Corbo, J. M., & Prasad, S. (2014) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Assessment of Consensus-Based Pharmacological Therapies in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Abtahi, S. R., & Zareian, P. (2015) · Journal of Archives in Military Medicine · doi:10.5812/jamm.30057
Barbalho, S. M., Goulart, R. A., & Gasparini, R. G. (2015)
Stratégie thérapeutique chez les patients atteints du syndrome de l’intestin irritable
Delvaux, M. M., & Gay, G. (2005) · Acta Endoscopica · doi:10.1007/bf03003922
“Patients usually consult general practitioners and are referred to the specialist because of an uncertain diagnosis or an unsatisfied patient [3].”
BackgroundIngesson, M., & Wellander, A. (2016) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University)
Drug treatment of irritable bowel syndrome — different approaches for different subgroups?
Spiller, R. E. (2009) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9591-7_5
Girman, A. (2013) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-2333-5.00027-4
Application of Functional Dairy Products from IBS to IBD
Karakan, T. (2009) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781420082081-c13
Diet and gut health in residents of a retirement village
Nanayakkara, T. W. S. (2017) · Otago University Research Archive (University of Otago)
Keszthelyi, D., & Ringel, Y. (2017) · The American Journal of Gastroenterology · doi:10.1038/ajg.2017.115
Thompson, J. (2018) · Primary Health Care · doi:10.7748/phc.2018.e1375
Sex and gender in irritable bowel syndrome
Shiotani, A., Miyanishi, T., & Takahashi, T. (2006)
過敏性腸症候群の病態生理:消化管生理学と神経科学の進歩から 過敏性腸症候群
審, 福. (2001) · 日本消化器病学会雑誌 · doi:10.11405/nisshoshi1964.98.1137
Unerklärte Körperbeschwerden und somatoforme Störungen
Kleinstäuber, M., Thomas, P., Witthöft, M., & Hiller, W. (2012) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-20108-0_1
Bellini, M., Tosetti, C., Italian Group for Primary Care Gastroenterology, G. P. A. G., Rettura, F., Morganti, R., Lambiase, C., Visaggi, P., Pancetti, A., Benedetto, E., de Bortoli, N., et al. (2021) · Journal of Family Medicine · doi:10.26420/jfammed.2021.1264
“Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) represents one of the most frequent gastroenterological clinical problems both for specialists and General Practitioners (GPs) [1-5].”
BackgroundRees, J. R. (2014) · ASM Press eBooks · doi:10.1128/9781555815486.ch4
Unerklärte Körperbeschwerden und somatoforme Störungen
Kleinstäuber, M., Thomas, P., Witthöft, M., & Hiller, W. F. A. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-54664-2_1
Laine, L., & Higgins, P. (2004) · Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02148.x
Frequency of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Medical Students
Roudi, S., Benjelloun, Z., Errami, A. A., Oubaha, S., Samlani, Z., & Krati, K. (2023) · SAS Journal of Medicine · doi:10.36347/sasjm.2023.v09i05.030
Evaluation of IL-8 and IL-10 Levels in men with Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Salman, S. M., & Yser, H. T. (2023) · Basrah Researches Sciences · doi:10.56714/bjrs.49.1.3
Faecal Calprotectin Diagnostics: Focus on Primary Care and Suspected Sources of Error
Rendek, Z. (2023) · Linköping University medical dissertations · doi:10.3384/9789179294014
“Approximately 8%–10% of primary care appointments involve patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (1, 2).”
BackgroundInfluentialXia, M. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-99-9167-9_11
Persistent Somatic Symptoms, Somatoform Disorders, and Somatic Symptom Disorders
Kleinstäuber, M., Thomas, P., Witthöft, M., & Hiller, W. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-69726-9_1
Knesebeck, O. V. D., Löwe, B., Lüdecke, D., Bobardt, J. S., & Barbek, R. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26669454
NGOLU, C. M., OHAMBE, M.-C. O., BASUA, B. M., Jean-Paul, J.-P. N. K. –. T. –. N., Franck, D. O., LONGOMBE, N. A., & KISEMBA, H. M. (2025) · Revue Congo Research Papers · doi:10.59937/iikd1690
Chang, L., Corsetti, M., Chey, W. D., Ford, A. C., Schmulson, M. J., Shin, A., Barbara, G., Ballou, S., Mayer, E. A., Siah, K. T. H., et al. (2026) · Nature Reviews Disease Primers · doi:10.1038/s41572-026-00741-7
Toner, B. B., Chang, L., Fukudo, S., Guthrie, E., Locke, G. F., Norton, N. J., & Sperber, A. D. (2007) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-211-69159-5_8
Complementary and alternative medicine for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
(2009) · PubMed Central · Cited by 89
(2006) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 78
Metadata
- Authors
- Thompson, W. G., Heaton, K. W., Smyth, G. T., & Smyth, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Thompson, W G
- ORCID
- Thompson, W G
- Venue
- Gut
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2000-01-01
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 78-82
- ISSN
- 0017-5749 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-3288
- PMC
- PMC1727778
- OpenAlex
- W2137007351
- Cited by
- 477
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 25.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Gut (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Health and Development
- Keywords
- irritable bowel syndrome, functional bowel disorders, general practice, prevalence, specialist referral, fear of cancer, diagnostic criteria, proctitis
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Attitude to Health, Colonic Diseases, Functional, England, Family Practice, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Referral and Consultation, Cohort Studies, Prevalence
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
