ACTA FAC. MED. NAISS. 2004; 21 (4): 225-230

     Original article

EVALUATION OF THE PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS AMONG THE PATIENTS WITH IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME

 

Suzana Tošić-Golubović1, Aleksandar Nagorni2, Srbobran Miljković2, Suzana Raičević-Sibinović1, Olivera Žikić2

1Physhiatry clinic,
2Clinic for gastroenterology and hepatology, Clinical center Niš, Faculty of medicine Niš


    SUMMARY

          

    Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is diagnosed in 8-17% of the general population and it is one of the most often problem seen in gastroenterology. Literature data showed that in 54 to 100% IBS patients some psychiatric illness or disorder was diagnosed. This transversal hospital based study was realised in order to evaluate the levels of anxiety and depression, as well as to assess personality traits, neuroticism and neurotic characteristic of personality of IBS patients and to compare obtained results with the same among healthy individuals. Standard psychometric instruments employed included the Hamilton anxiety and Hamilton depression scale, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI). High anxiety scores were noted among 14% IBS patients and none of healthy individuals noted such high scores from 21 to 25. The similar trends were observed in depression levels and 10% IBS patients had depression scores over 15, while such high scores were not reported in control group. Most of IBS patients had prominent neuroticism observed using Eysenck Personality Inventory, as well as high scores on hypersensitivity, depression and hysteria neurotic scales of MMPI. Our study showed that the patients suffering from IBS and seeking medical help because of their symptoms, reported many emotional problems among which anxiety and depression are the most prominent. It can be concluded that patients with IBS have premorbid personality characteristics that modulate the way that perceive and become distressed by physiological causes, resulting in depression, anxiety symptoms and more health-care-seeking behaviour.

    Key words: irritable bowel syndrome, depression, anxiety, neuroticism, neurotic personality traits