Do the Symptom-Based, Rome Criteria of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lead to Better Diagnosis and Treatment Outcomes?

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an extraordinarily prevalent condition, remaining one of the most common disorders gastroenterologists treat. Because there is no specific test for diagnosing IBS, experts have devised criteria to guide the clinician and researcher in making a diagnosis. Despite their widespread adoption, the Rome III criteria still engender debate regarding their utility and symptom-guided approach. Herein, 2 experts with divergent views explore this debate. A third expert concludes the article, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of each viewpoint.