Dyspepsia, Functional Dyspepsia, and Nonulcer Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is pain or discomfort centered in the upper abdomen. Associated disease may cause the symptom. As a functional disorder, the term dyspepsia is used when the discomfort or pain is chronic, lasts at least 12 weeks during the preceding 12 months, and is accompanied by no evidence of biochemical, metabolic, or organic disease.

Dyspepsia is common. Approximately 25% of adults experience such discomfort, but only 5% seek medical attention. Fewer than half the patients with this type of centered epigastric discomfort have any associated organic disease. Dyspepsia of no organic cause is called functional dyspepsia. Therefore the cause of dyspepsia may be true organic disease, which, when treated, cures the dyspepsia. Without some identifiable pathophysiology, it becomes functional dyspepsia. Patients with associated abnormality usually are also classified as having functional dyspepsia when the abnormality is considered irrelevant.