title: Association between early adverse life events and irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although childhood and adult abuse are more prevalent among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) than healthy individuals (controls), other types of early adverse life events (EALs) have not been well characterized. We investigated whether different types of EALs, before age 18 years, are more prevalent among patients with IBS, and the effects of sex and nongastrointestinal symptoms on the relationship between EALs and IBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  EALs were evaluated in 294 IBS patients (79% women) and 435 controls (77% women) using the Early Trauma Inventory Self-Report Form, which delineates subcategories of general trauma and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Validated questionnaires assessed gastrointestinal, psychological, and somatic symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with controls, IBS patients reported a higher prevalence of general trauma (78.5% vs 62.3%), physical punishment (60.6% vs 49.2%), emotional abuse (54.9% vs 27.0%), and sexual events (31.2% vs 17.9%) (all P < .001). These significant differences were observed mainly in women. Of the EAL domains, emotional abuse was the strongest predictor of IBS (P < .001). Eight of the 27 EAL items were significant (P < .001) and increased the odds of having IBS by 108% to 305%. Although EALs and psychological variables were related, EALs had an independent association with IBS (P = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various types of EALs are associated with the development of IBS-particularly among women. Psychological distress and somatic symptoms might contribute to this relationship. When appropriate, EALs and nongastrointestinal symptoms should be assessed in IBS patients.
authors.affiliation: Oppenheimer Family Center of Neurobiology of Stress, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-7378, USA.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Videlock
authors.forename: Angela P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Presson
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Naliboff
authors.forename: Emeran A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires