Personality Attributes May Influence Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Aug 10 - Individuals who experience high levels of stress and anxiety appear to be more likely to develop irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) following an episode of gastroenteritis, UK and New Zealand researchers report in the August issue of Gut.

A variety of studies suggest a cognitive behavioral model for IBD, study co-authors Dr. Rona Moss-Morris of the University of Southampton and Dr. Meagan J. Spence of the University of Auckland point out.

"This study shows that various psychological factors, particularly stress, anxiety and a tendency to push oneself to keep going when ill and then collapse in response, interact with the physical illness in causing IBS," Dr. Moss-Morris told Reuters Health.

In their study, the researchers enrolled 620 primary care patients who tested positive for Campylobacter gastroenteritis. None had a history of IBS or serious bowel conditions.

The subjects completed a questionnaire, covering aspects of personality and behavior at the time of the initial infection, and then a follow-up survey at 3 and 6 months to determine whether they met Rome criteria for IBS. In all, 49 of the patients met the criteria at both follow-up points.

Depression and perfectionism were not significantly associated with the onset of IBS. However, a variety of other factors were. These included significantly higher levels of perceived stress, anxiety and somatization.

IBS patients were significantly less likely to rest in the face of their illness and exhibited "all-or-nothing" behavior, by continuing their activities despite their symptoms until they were forced to stop.

These patients were prone to view illness in a particularly pessimistic fashion. Being female was also an important risk factor.

The UK author of an accompanying editorial, Dr. Francis Creed of the University of Manchester, told Reuters Health that "this was a truly prospective study...that shows more clearly than most the psychological factors that are associated with the development of IBS."

Gut 2007;56:1039-1041,1066-1071.

Source: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561270?sssdmh=dm1.293374&src=nldne