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...