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The Fall 2013 edition of the Center’s newsletter, Digest, is now available in electronic format. The print version will be sent out later this month. To view the E-Publication, click here.

The cover article for the Fall Edition highlights the contributions of Dr. Jeffrey Lackner, PsyD to cognitive behavioral therapy and IBS research and treatment therapies.

Included in this edition is focusing on the research of Dr. Yehuda Ringel’s lab and their discoveries of how intestinal bacteria interact with the central nervous system (CNS) through immune, hormonal, and neural mechanisms and how alterations in the bacteria may lead to long term increases in anxiety, which in turn can worsen the symptoms of IBS.

You can find out information on how to participate in the Center’s Continuing Education Course on Irritable Bowel Syndrome “How to treat IBS Effectively: Expert Update for Health Professionals.” This Continuing Medical Education event brings together the world’s leading experts in the field of medicine and psychology to speak about current medical and psychological practices for the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Multiple topics will be discussed including; etiology of IBS, Pharmacologic treatment options, Probiotics, Antibiotics, and Diet, Effective psychological interventions, and the Rome Criteria in Clinical Practice, Participation for this event will be available in two formats; (1) in-person and (2) a live streaming video webinar. In-person participation is limited to 60 slots so space is limited. Webinar participants will be able to submit questions online and have them addressed during the discussion panels at the end of each session. (Registration information can be found here.)

This edition also covers recent national news from the National Institutes of Health on the current state of research on fecal incontinence. Dr. Whitehead was invited to speak in Bethesda, MD at the National Library of Medicine. In his presentation, he laid out 4 ways to improve fecal incontinence research. “(1) to identify the reasons why FI sufferers do not consult doctors and why doctors do not ask their patients about FI, and how to overcome these barriers; (2) to compare different treatments directly against each other in side-by-side tests in terms of effectiveness, cost, and safety; (3) to develop and study novel FI treatment approaches; and (4) to improve the measurement of FI severity and make such measures uniform across researchers.”

If you would like to receive a print copy of the newsletter, Digest, email Stefanie Twist at to be added to the registry.