Irritable bowel syndrome: an exercise in functional analysis of behavior

Authors

  • Carlos Henrique Bohm Universidade de Brasilia
  • Lincoln da Silva Gimenes Universidade de Brasília

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v14i2.15600

Keywords:

functional analysis of behavior, irritable bowel syndrome, self-monitoring, daily activities

Abstract

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by an alteration of the frequency of the intestinal evacuations, which are associated with abdominal discomfort. The etiology of this health problem is not very well known yet. The psychological literature offers support to IBS comprehension by stress model, adjunctive bowel motility model and operant model. This study was an exercise in functional analysis of behavior with a woman, IBS patient, through interviews and self-monitoring (SM) of daily activities and the symptoms to verify the existence of functional relations between these two events. The participant showed a diarrhea symptom which had a consistent remission during a period of vacation, as a function of changes in the academic demands. Her symptoms seemed postponing aversive activities, indicating the operant control. This study demonstrated the possibility of using functional analysis as an instrument capable of helping in SII comprehension.

 

Keywords: functional analysis of behavior; irritable bowel syndrome; self-monitoring; daily activities.

Author Biographies

Carlos Henrique Bohm, Universidade de Brasilia

Mestre e doutorando em Ciências do Comportamento pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências no Comportamento. Departamento de Processos Psicológicos Básico, Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de Brasília.

Lincoln da Silva Gimenes, Universidade de Brasília

Professor titular do Departamento de Processos Psicológicos Básicos da Universidade de Brasília. Doutor em Psychobiology pela Oregon Health & Science University.

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How to Cite

Bohm, C. H., & Gimenes, L. da S. (2010). Irritable bowel syndrome: an exercise in functional analysis of behavior. Interação Em Psicologia, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v14i2.15600

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 2 (2010)

Section

Articles

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