Abdominal Pain and Depression, Not Bowel Habits, Predict Health Care Utilization in Patients With Functional Bowel Disorders

INTRODUCTION: Patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) are high users of health care. Past studies exploring predictors of utilization have lacked patient-level clinical data. The aim of the current study is to identify demographic, clinical, and psychological predictors of health care utilization in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional constipation (FC), and functional diarrhea (FDr). METHODS: Consecutive new...