IBS-like symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission; relationships with quality of life and coping behavior.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms in healthy controls and inflammatory bowel disease patients in remission using the Rome II criteria. Furthermore, the possible relation of irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms with the quality of life and coping behavior was studied. Seventy-three ulcerative colitis patients in remission, 34 Crohn's disease patients in remission, and 66 healthy controls completed questionnaires on irritable bowel syndrome, quality of life, and coping. Using the Rome II criteria, irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms were found in one-third of ulcerative colitis patients and in 42% of Crohn's disease patients in remission. The presence of irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms impaired the quality of life of patients, while no relation was found between the presence of symptoms and coping strategies.