R M Weinryb1, E Österberg2, L Blomquist3, R Hultcrantz4, I Krakau1, M Åsberg2. 1. a Dept. of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychotherapy Section Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden. 2. b Dept. of Medicine, Family Practice Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden. 3. c Dept. of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Section Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden. 4. d Dept. of Clinical Neuroscience, Psychiatry Section Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that psychopathology in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients is a function of patient status rather than of the disease. Although there are many studies comparing IBS patients, IBS non-patients, and controls with each other, no previous study has recruited all three groups from a representative community sample and had all subjects diagnosed by a physician. In the present study we aimed to compare psychological factors in IBS patients, IBS non-patients, and normal controls in a sample recruited from the population. METHODS: Subjects aged 18-45 years were recruited from a random sample of the normal population. Seventeen (2 M and 15 F) IBS patients were matched by sex and age with IBS non-patients and normals. Measures of personality traits, interpersonal distress, and temporary psychological distress were used. A physician diagnosed all 51 subjects in order to exclude possible gastrointestinal diagnoses other than IBS. RESULTS: Controls often differed from IBS non-patients and patients on the personality, interpersonal, and psychological distress measures, while IBS non-patients and patients very rarely differed from each other. All three groups were non-alexithymic. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that there are psychopathological differences between normals and IBS persons (patients and non-patients), but they could not confirm that psychopathology was a function of patient status. Whether this psychopathology is a vulnerability factor for IBS, or a consequence of it, remains to be studied.
BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that psychopathology in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients is a function of patient status rather than of the disease. Although there are many studies comparing IBSpatients, IBS non-patients, and controls with each other, no previous study has recruited all three groups from a representative community sample and had all subjects diagnosed by a physician. In the present study we aimed to compare psychological factors in IBSpatients, IBS non-patients, and normal controls in a sample recruited from the population. METHODS: Subjects aged 18-45 years were recruited from a random sample of the normal population. Seventeen (2 M and 15 F) IBSpatients were matched by sex and age with IBS non-patients and normals. Measures of personality traits, interpersonal distress, and temporary psychological distress were used. A physician diagnosed all 51 subjects in order to exclude possible gastrointestinal diagnoses other than IBS. RESULTS: Controls often differed from IBS non-patients and patients on the personality, interpersonal, and psychological distress measures, while IBS non-patients and patients very rarely differed from each other. All three groups were non-alexithymic. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that there are psychopathological differences between normals and IBSpersons (patients and non-patients), but they could not confirm that psychopathology was a function of patient status. Whether this psychopathology is a vulnerability factor for IBS, or a consequence of it, remains to be studied.
Entities:
Keywords:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Medical Care Seeking; Psychological Factors; Psychopathology