Gillian Eleanor Cassar1, George Youssef J2, Simon R Knowles3, Richard Moulding1, David Austin1. 1. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. 2. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. 3. Faculty Health, Arts, and Design, Department of Psychology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of diagnostic status (i.e., having a clinical diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or being symptomatic but undiagnosed on quality of life (QoL)). We also examined whether the relationships between QoL and variables such as symptom frequency, pain catastrophizing, visceral sensitivity, and psychological distress are moderated by diagnostic status. METHODS: The online sample comprised 404 participants (Mage = 33.59, SD = 12.43), of which 98 had been diagnosed with IBS and 306 were symptomatic but undiagnosed. RESULTS: The findings suggest that even after adjusting for symptom frequency, those diagnosed with IBS experience poorer QoL, relative to those without a diagnosis. Moreover, there was evidence that the relationship between specific QoL domains (namely, sex, food avoidance, and health worry) and psychological variables (namely, pain catastrophizing, and depression) was moderated by diagnostic status. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that diagnostic status in relation to IBS has psychological implications for QoL outcomes distinct from symptom frequency, age, and gender. This highlights a substantial gap in our current understanding of how a diagnosis of IBS can impact the lives of those suffering from IBS symptomology and calls into question the intended purpose of diagnosis.
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of diagnostic status (i.e., having a clinical diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or being symptomatic but undiagnosed on quality of life (QoL)). We also examined whether the relationships between QoL and variables such as symptom frequency, pain catastrophizing, visceral sensitivity, and psychological distress are moderated by diagnostic status. METHODS: The online sample comprised 404 participants (Mage = 33.59, SD = 12.43), of which 98 had been diagnosed with IBS and 306 were symptomatic but undiagnosed. RESULTS: The findings suggest that even after adjusting for symptom frequency, those diagnosed with IBS experience poorer QoL, relative to those without a diagnosis. Moreover, there was evidence that the relationship between specific QoL domains (namely, sex, food avoidance, and health worry) and psychological variables (namely, pain catastrophizing, and depression) was moderated by diagnostic status. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that diagnostic status in relation to IBS has psychological implications for QoL outcomes distinct from symptom frequency, age, and gender. This highlights a substantial gap in our current understanding of how a diagnosis of IBS can impact the lives of those suffering from IBS symptomology and calls into question the intended purpose of diagnosis.
Authors: J Y Chang; A E Almazar; G Richard Locke; J J Larson; E J Atkinson; N J Talley; Y A Saito Journal: Neurogastroenterol Motil Date: 2018-04-27 Impact factor: 3.598
Authors: Lesley A Houghton; Margaret Heitkemper; Michael Crowell; Anton Emmanuel; Albena Halpert; James A McRoberts; Brenda Toner Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2016-02-15 Impact factor: 22.682