[A consecutive study of patients with irritable bowel disease in two tertiary referral centers].
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the nature of illness behavior and the meaning of emotional deficiencies during childhood in patients with irritable bowel diseases (IBS).


METHODS
A consecutive study in two tertiary referral centers was conducted with 48 patients suffering from irritable bowel diseases (IBS) and 91 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).


METHODS
The diagnosis of IBS was made by following the Manning criteria, a positive diagnosis of IBD was established through physical, endoscopic and radiologic examinations and was confirmed histologically. Psychological data were obtained by structured psychiatric interviews and psychological self-report measures (GBB).


RESULTS
We found that the rate of physician visits given in the course of the disease, is increased for those having irritable bowel disease (IBS). These patients are dissatisfied with the physicians and prone to psychophysiological complaint. In the daily routine and in occupation they are more impaired than those with inflammatory disease. This finding emphasizes in particular that patients with irritable bowel diseases (IBS) have experienced emotional deficiencies in childhood as an after effect of loss, divorce of the parents etc.


CONCLUSIONS
Implications for doctor-patient relationship and the necessity for epidemiological studies in Germany are discussed.
Porsch
U
U
Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie des Klinikums der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. profession@u-porsch.de
Wanitschke
R
R
Linhart
P
P
Börner
N
N
Bassler
M
M
Galle
P
P
Hoffmann
S O
SO
D000328:Adult; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations