MEBANE, N.C., June 1, 2009 — Behavioral Health Associates of NC, Inc. announces the release for sale of the iPhone symptom tracker application for Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This application helps users keep track of bowel function as well as ten other variables in order to create an accurate picture of IBS symptom experience. The application prepares 24 hour, one week and 90 day graphs of symptoms and can e-mail these graphs along with a text summary to any e-mail address of the user’s choosing, right from their iPhone.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a condition of brain/gut dysfunction where patients experience abdominal pain or discomfort that is decreased after bowel movement. Commonly, bowel movements with this condition will have a diarrheal or constipated consistency and be accompanied by a sense of urgency. Many patients report that stress can play a role in their symptoms and research has shown that a number of psychological and biological variables impact IBS experience.
The IBS Symptom Tracker was developed by a clinical psychologist who specializes in behavioral medicine and GI Dysfunction. Patients commonly have difficulty remembering stressful or anxiety provoking situations that may contribute to their symptoms. One tool that is frequently used in GI clinics is for patients to keep a diary that pairs bowel movement data with data on psychological and biological functioning. Gastroenterologists who work with IBS can also benefit from information obtained in this type of diary as it allows them to track changes in symptoms that occur with medication or lifestyle changes over time.
People with IBS are encouraged to visit http://itunes.com/apps/ibssymptomtracker and purchase this application, which retails for $3.99. By recording post bowel movement data, as well as anywhere from 1-5 momentary assessments at convenient times during the day, a clear picture of relationships between symptoms can be developed. The graphs and data produced by the symptom tracker can help patients communicate with their physician about this condition and can help users develop a greater sense of control through learning about their own symptom experience.
For more information on Irritable Bowel Syndrome, please visit the website for the International Foundation for Functional GI and Motility Disorders at http://www.iffgd.org.
ABOUT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSOCIATES OF NC, INC.
Behavioral Health Associates of NC, Inc. provides clinical psychology services in behavioral medicine to patients in the triad area of North Carolina. The president of BHANC, Inc. is Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Stephan Weinland who also holds a faculty appointment in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Weinland focuses on working with patients who have medical concerns such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome and other GI conditions. For more information, please visit the BHANC, Inc. website at http://www.everydaypsychologist.com.
Contact Information:
Behavioral Health Associates of NC, Inc.
Stephan R. Weinland, Ph.D.
301 N. Second Street
Mebane, NC 27302
Telephone – (919) 636-2679
Fax – (919) 304-9546
E-mail – or
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