title: Partner burden in irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have described the burden experienced by caregivers and next of kin to patients with diseases such as cancer. However, the burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders on partners of patients has not been determined. We aimed to quantify the degree of burden to partners of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), to describe the factors that affect the burden perceived, and to identify the areas of relationship that are affected.
  
  
  METHODS
  We surveyed 152 patients diagnosed with IBS at a tertiary gastrointestinal clinic, on the basis of Rome III criteria, and their partners. Their partners completed questionnaires including the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Relationship Satisfaction Scale, and questions on sexual relationships. Patients with IBS were rated for disease severity by using the Functional Bowel Disease Severity Index. We compared findings with those from 39 partners of healthy individuals (controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant demographic differences between the partners of patients with IBS and controls; demographics had no effect on burden. Burden was significantly higher among partners of IBS patients (mean ZBI score, 22.1) than controls (mean ZBI score, 11.5) (P = .0002). The degree of burden was directly related to IBS severity (P < .0001). There were inverse relationships between partners' rating of burden (ZBI) and relationship quality (R = -0.60; P < .001) and sexual satisfaction (R = -0.56; P < .0001). There was no difference in the Relationship Satisfaction Scale scores (4.25 vs 4.19; P = .78) or sexual relationship (6.47 vs 6.21; P = .64) between partners of IBS patients and controls, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partners of patients with IBS have a significant burden (on the basis of ZBI score), compared with partners of healthy individuals. Perceived burden increases with IBS severity and poorer sexual and relationship satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. reuben_wong@nuhs.edu.sg
authors.forename: Reuben K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Drossman
authors.forename: Stephan R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Weinland
authors.forename: Carolyn B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leserman
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Renuka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kelapure
authors.forename: Shrikant I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Bangdiwala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012384:Rome; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires