Nagisa Sugaya1, Shinobu Nomura, Hironori Shimada. 1. Research Project for Addictive Substances, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan. nagisa618@gmail.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have high anxiety. There is insufficient information about the relationships between concrete cognitive contents and anxiety in IBS. PURPOSE: The present study investigated the relationship between cognitive factors and anxiety in individuals with IBS. METHOD: The participants were 1,087 college students (male, 506; female, 576; unidentified, 5; age, 19.72 ± 1.76 years) who completed a set of questionnaires that included the Rome II Modular Questionnaire (based on diagnostic criteria for IBS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Cognitive Appraisal Rating Scale (CARS; subscales: commitment, appraisal of effect, appraisal of threat, and controllability) for measuring symptom-related cognition, an item about attention to abdominal symptoms, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety Scale (HADS-A), and an item regarding the presence of avoidant behavior due to anxiety of IBS symptoms. RESULTS: The participants included 881 individuals without IBS and 206 individuals with IBS. Individuals with IBS had higher ASI and HADS-A scores than those of the individuals belonging to the control group (p < 0.001). Subscale scores of CARS (except those of controllability and attention to IBS symptoms) significantly correlated with the ASI and HADS-A scores (p < 0.01). Individuals with IBS and avoidant behavior had higher subscale scores of CARS (except those of controllability and attention to IBS symptoms) and higher HADS-A scores (p < 0.05). The hypothetical models containing ASI scores, subscale scores of CARS (except those of controllability), and HADS-A scores with and without attention to IBS symptoms exhibited a good fit. CONCLUSION: Severe anxiety sensitivity in individuals with IBS related to their symptom-related cognition, and the altered cognition increases anxiety, leading to the possible development of a disabling condition.
BACKGROUND: Individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have high anxiety. There is insufficient information about the relationships between concrete cognitive contents and anxiety in IBS. PURPOSE: The present study investigated the relationship between cognitive factors and anxiety in individuals with IBS. METHOD: The participants were 1,087 college students (male, 506; female, 576; unidentified, 5; age, 19.72 ± 1.76 years) who completed a set of questionnaires that included the Rome II Modular Questionnaire (based on diagnostic criteria for IBS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Cognitive Appraisal Rating Scale (CARS; subscales: commitment, appraisal of effect, appraisal of threat, and controllability) for measuring symptom-related cognition, an item about attention to abdominal symptoms, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety Scale (HADS-A), and an item regarding the presence of avoidant behavior due to anxiety of IBS symptoms. RESULTS: The participants included 881 individuals without IBS and 206 individuals with IBS. Individuals with IBS had higher ASI and HADS-A scores than those of the individuals belonging to the control group (p < 0.001). Subscale scores of CARS (except those of controllability and attention to IBS symptoms) significantly correlated with the ASI and HADS-A scores (p < 0.01). Individuals with IBS and avoidant behavior had higher subscale scores of CARS (except those of controllability and attention to IBS symptoms) and higher HADS-A scores (p < 0.05). The hypothetical models containing ASI scores, subscale scores of CARS (except those of controllability), and HADS-A scores with and without attention to IBS symptoms exhibited a good fit. CONCLUSION: Severe anxiety sensitivity in individuals with IBS related to their symptom-related cognition, and the altered cognition increases anxiety, leading to the possible development of a disabling condition.
Authors: Jeffrey M Lackner; Mary Lou Coad; Howard R Mertz; David S Wack; Leonard A Katz; Susan S Krasner; Rebecca Firth; Thomas C Mahl; Alan H Lockwood Journal: Behav Res Ther Date: 2005-07-21