Implications of a Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder Diagnosis

The term “Functional Disorder” is an oxymoron – i.e., how can a disorder be functional? The term is applied to a diagnosis for which not only is the cause unknown, but there are few objective physical findings. An excellent description of functional gastrointestinal disorders can be found in the Department of Veteran Affairs Pension and Benefit Disability Evaluations.

“Functional gastrointestinal disorders are a group of conditions characterized by chronic or recurrent symptoms that are unexplained by any structural, endoscopic, laboratory or other objective signs of injury or disease and may be related to any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Specific functional gastrointestinal disorders include but are not limited to: irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia, functional vomiting, functional constipation, functional bloating, functional abdominal pain syndrome and functional dysphagia. These disorders are commonly characterized by symptoms including abdominal pain, substernal burning or pain, nausea, vomiting, altered bowel habits (including diarrhea, constipation), indigestion, bloating, postprandial fullness, and painful or difficult swallowing. Diagnosis of specific functional gastrointestinal disorders is made in accordance with established medical principles, which generally require symptom onset at least six months prior to diagnosis and the presence of symptoms sufficient to diagnose the specific disorder at least three months prior to diagnosis.”

These issues are also seen in many Workers’ Compensation claims, the majority of which involve physical as well as emotional issues