Colonic transit investigated by radiopaque markers in females with irritable bowel syndrome: no correlation with symptoms and chronic stress.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between colonic transit and chronic stress in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Total and segmental colonic transit was studied with radiopaque markers in 16 females with irritable bowel syndrome and in 20 matched controls. The transit times were correlated with symptoms and with scores of some psychological tests reflecting stress or susceptibility to stress: the life events scale of Holmes and Rahe, the Jenkins activity survey for type-A behaviour, the MMPI hostility scale and the Dukes questionnaire for social support. In females with irritable bowel syndrome, prolonged transit was observed on the right colon in 43% of cases, on the left colon in 25% of cases, on the rectosigmoid in no case, on the total colon in 31% of cases. No subject had accelerated colonic transit. In irritable bowel syndrome, life events scores were high in 63% of cases, 69% had type-A behaviour, 50% had high scores for hostility and 69% had impaired social support. All these parameters were impaired as compared to controls. No correlation was detected between stress factors and colonic transit.