Psychological and sociodemographic correlates of the irritable bowel syndrome.

Thirty patients with the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) were evaluated for personality profiles and psychiatric morbidity. In comparison with normal controls, these patients were more neurotic, showed more anxiety and had a higher incidence of neurotic depression, anxiety neurosis and alcoholism. IBS was found to be more common in young, urban males and sedentary workers.