In recent years functional gastrointestinal disorders have attracted much interest. These disorders are extremely common. They are characterized by symptoms and the lack of structural lesions that can be identified with clinically available routine diagnostic tests. Several functional abnormalities are now believed to play a role in the development of the symptoms. This book summarizes the presentations at the International Falk Symposium No. 99 `Functional Dyspepsia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Concepts and Controversies' that took place on May 27-28, 1997. This symposium brought together clinical and basic researchers and clinicians to improve interdisciplinary communication. The meeting comprehensively covered basic and clinical aspects of these disorders, and it not only summarized the current knowledge, but also identified scientific questions that need to be addressed in the future.

In gastrointestinal (GI) practice, a large proportion of patients present with what are currently classified as functional GI complaints. For decades, psychological causes have been implicated in the initiation and maintenance of symptoms. In recent years, disturbances of GI function including sensory motor abnormalities have been catalogued and are now believed to play a key role in the development of symptoms. A genetic predisposition may be important. Furthermore, evidence has accumulated that GI inflammation can trigger and maintains functional disturbances. In particular, acute GI inflammation appears to play a crucial role in at least a subgroup of patients. These observations potentially have profound implications for the field, and suggest that functional GI disorders are indeed organic diseases.