A substantial body of literature exists on functional gastrointestinal disorders in children and on the bio-psycho-social model of clinical practice. However, the integration of these concepts into the management of children with functional disorders remains poorly defined. A satisfactory clinical outcome often depends on the clinician's ability to discern not only the biological factors in illness, but also the unique cognitive and emotional needs that pediatric patients bring to the task of healing. This book further defines bio-psycho-social theory with respect to six groups of functional...