title: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and alcohol abuse or dependence.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been reported in 10-22% of adults. Using a semistructured clinical interview to study the prevalence of IBS, we compared 31 patients seeking treatment for alcohol abuse or dependence in an outpatient setting with an age- and sex-matched control group of 40 patients who were seeking treatment in a general physician's office for other medical illnesses. The control group did not have any Axis I disorders. IBS was diagnosed according to the criteria of Drossman et al. Thirteen (41.9%) patients with alcohol abuse or dependence met the criteria for IBS, in contrast to 1 (2.5%) patient in the control group. We conclude that IBS is common and frequently underdiagnosed in patients with alcohol abuse or dependence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Masand
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sousou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors