Psychometric scores and persistence of irritable bowel after infectious diarrhoea

Summary Background Although previous studies have shown that psychological disturbances are frequently associated with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the relation was not necessarily cause and effect. The development of chronic bowel symptoms resembling IBS after an episode of acute gastroenter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 1996-01, Vol.347 (8995), p.150-153
Main Authors: Gwee, K.A, Read, N.W, Graham, J.C, McKendrick, M.W, Collins, S.M, Marshall, J.S, Walters, S.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anxiety
Biological and medical sciences
Colonic Diseases, Functional - etiology
Colonic Diseases, Functional - psychology
Diarrhea
Diarrhea - complications
Diarrhea - psychology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis - complications
Gastroenteritis - psychology
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Humans
Intestine
Irritable bowel syndrome
Lactose
Malabsorption
Male
Medical research
Medical sciences
Mental depression
Middle Aged
Other diseases. Semiology
Patients
Prospective Studies
Psychological factors
Psychological Tests
Psychology
Psychometrics
Quantitative psychology
Signs and symptoms
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
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Summary:Summary Background Although previous studies have shown that psychological disturbances are frequently associated with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the relation was not necessarily cause and effect. The development of chronic bowel symptoms resembling IBS after an episode of acute gastroenteritis has allowed us to examine prospectively the role of psychological factors. Methods 75 patients with acute gastroenteritis completed a series of psychometric tests soon after admission to hospital. Of these, 22 had persistent symptoms compatible with IBS after the acute illness, and in 20 of these the symptoms were still present at six months. Findings At the time of their initial illness, patients who subsequently developed IBS symptoms had higher scores for anxiety, depression, somatisation, and neurotic trait than those who returned to normal bowel function. The psychometric scores had not changed when remeasured three months after the acute illness. Lactose malabsorption was not an important factor. Interpretation These results support the hypothesis that psychological factors are important in IBS.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(96)90341-4