[Impact of the anxiety characteristics and depression on clinical aspects and quality of life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome].
BACKGROUND
Anxiety and depression have been related with seeking medical care by IBS patients, however their impact over the clinical characteristics and health related quality of life (HRQOL) of the patients, is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of these traits over the symptoms, number of consultations and HRQOL in IBS.


METHODS
Consecutive moderate to severe IBS-Rome I patients that consulted a reference center in Mexico City, answered the HAD, a Bowel Symptom Questionnaire and the SF-36. Patients were compared according to the presence or absence of anxiety or depression.


RESULTS
Anxiety was found in 70%, depression in 46% and both traits among 40%. The majority of those with depression were single compared to a married majority in those without this trait (p = 0.03). Those with anxiety (p = 0.03) and depression (p = 0.006) reported more number of days with abdominal pain/ discomfort and both traits (p = 0.000) were associated with a higher frequency of fullness, distention, abdominal pain, incomplete evacuation, abnormal bowel movements and lower HRQOL. Patients with anxiety reported a more severe IBS and those with depression a higher frequency of diarrhea predominance (p = 0.047).


CONCLUSIONS
Traits anxiety and depression negatively impacted over the number of days, symptom frequency and HRQOL of patients with moderate to severe IBS. More studies are needed to determine if these psychological symptoms are causing these outcomes or if the gastrointestinal symptoms and poor HRQOL are triggering anxiety and depression in IBS.
Reséndiz-Figueroa
F E
FE
Departamento de Cirugía General, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad No. 25, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, Nuevo León.
Ortiz-Garrido
O M
OM
Pulido
D
D
Arcila-Martínez
D
D
Schmulson
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult