Constructive thinking, rational intelligence and irritable bowel syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate rational and experiential intelligence in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers.


METHODS
We recruited 100 subjects with IBS as per Rome II criteria (50 consulters and 50 non-consulters) and 100 healthy controls, matched by age, sex and educational level. Cases and controls completed a clinical questionnaire (including symptom characteristics and medical consultation) and the following tests: rational-intelligence (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 3rd edition); experiential-intelligence (Constructive Thinking Inventory); personality (NEO personality inventory); psychopathology (MMPI-2), anxiety (state-trait anxiety inventory) and life events (social readjustment rating scale). Analysis of variance was used to compare the test results of IBS-sufferers and controls, and a logistic regression model was then constructed and adjusted for age, sex and educational level to evaluate any possible association with IBS.


RESULTS
No differences were found between IBS cases and controls in terms of IQ (102.0 +/- 10.8 vs 102.8 +/- 12.6), but IBS sufferers scored significantly lower in global constructive thinking (43.7 +/- 9.4 vs 49.6 +/- 9.7). In the logistic regression model, global constructive thinking score was independently linked to suffering from IBS [OR 0.92 (0.87-0.97)], without significant OR for total IQ.


CONCLUSIONS
IBS subjects do not show lower rational intelligence than controls, but lower experiential intelligence is nevertheless associated with IBS.
Rey
Enrique
E
Department of Digestive Diseases, Hospital Clinico San Carlos (IMSALUD), and Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain. rey.enrique.spain@gmail.com
Moreno Ortega
Marta
M
Garcia Alonso
Monica-Olga
MO
Diaz-Rubio
Manuel
M
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires