Review for 10.1186/s12876-021-01879-2 (2021)

Reviewer’s report
Title: 
Pain and psyche in a patient with irritable bowel syndrome—chicken or
egg? A time series case report
Version: 
1 
Date: 
18 Apr 2021
Reviewer's report:
I thank the authors for their detailed responses to my earlier comments. I have
just one remaining concern and that is regarding comments around causality.
Nothing that the authors say is incorrect in itself but the only criterion for
causality that is discussed is temporal order, with cause preceding effect.
Temporal order is indeed a necessary but is not a sufficient condition for a
conclusion of causality. I refer the authors to the work of Bradford-Hill which
remains a standard reference and in which temporal order is only one of nine
criteria. I therefore remain concerned that the limitations to the evaluation of
causality in this work is underplayed and a much clearer statement of the criteria
required be included.
Reference
Hill AB. The Environment and Disease: Association or Causation? Proceedings
of the Royal Society of Medicine 1965; 58(5): 295-300
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Is the study design appropriate to answer the research question (including the use
of appropriate controls), and are the conclusions supported by the evidence
presented?
Yes
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from apparent manipulation?
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