Chan Y, Cheong PK, Fang FF, et al. - In the present study, the researchers developed and validated a comprehensive symptom severity checklist for a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), a persistent and recurring medical condition with no identified underlying pathophysiology, through exploratory factor analysis. A 20-item scale was developed, including symptoms of upper and lower GI, to measure the severity of symptoms commonly found in FGID. For the current study, 641 individuals were selected and 108 of them finished the FGI-checklist again at follow-up. Exploratory factor analysis recognised a five-factor solution accounting for 66.8% of the total variance. The five factors were called Esophageal Syndrome, Reflux Syndrome, Functional Dyspepsia Syndrome, Nausea and Vomiting Syndrome, and Abdominal and Bowel Syndrome. There was significant responsiveness for the subscale of Reflux Syndrome, the subscale of Functional Dyspepsia Syndrome, and the subscale of Abdominal and Bowel Syndrome after medication treatment. Overall, the authors concluded that the FGI-checklist instrument is valid and reliable.