Psychosocial determinants of irritable bowel syndrome

Table 6 Comorbid psychiatric diagnoses and their relation to irritable bowel syndrome

Psychiatric symptoms and psychiatric diseases are frequent in IBS, especially in severe forms

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in IBS (approximately 30% of patients)

Generalized anxiety disorder is present in about 15% of patients

High gastrointestinal specific anxiety predicts symptom severity

High levels of somatization determine frequent use of health care services, a poor response to treatment and a poor health-related quality of life

Other psychiatric disorders in IBS patients: posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, hypochondriasis, dysthymia, phobias, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, drug or alcohol problems

Patients with severe IBS may have more than one psychiatric disorder

Measurement methods: Symptom checklist-90-revised for overall psychological distress; state-trait anxiety inventory, beck depression Inventory

IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome.