title: Neuroendocrine markers and psychological features in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The key role of the brain-gut axis in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been recognized. The aim of this study was to assess the possible association between IBS, neuroendocrine markers, and psychological features.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty-five consecutive IBS patients and 105 healthy subjects were enrolled. Plasma serotonin, plasma and urinary cortisol, and plasma neuropeptide Y levels were evaluated. All patients were given a questionnaire to assess IBS symptom severity. In 66 patients, a psychodiagnostic assessment was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high incidence of specific psychological features, including state anxiety (69.69 %), trait anxiety (54.54 %), obsessions and compulsions (28.78 %), was observed in IBS patients. A positive correlation between neuropeptide Y and state anxiety (r = 0.287, p = 0.024) and simulation/social ingenuity (r = 0.269, p = 0.039) was found in these patients. In diarrhea-predominant IBS, plasma cortisol was linearly related to plasma serotonin (r = 0.5663, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In IBS patients, a significant correlation was found between specific psychological features and neuroendocrine markers, especially plasma cortisol and neuropeptide Y; in diarrhea-predominant IBS, a correlation between plasma cortisol and serotonin was found, although it needs to be confirmed in more extensive cohorts.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. cristina.stasi@unifi.it
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Stasi
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Bellini
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Costa
authors: Maria Gloria
authors: MG
authors: Mumolo
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Ricchiuti
authors: Mariano
authors: M
authors: Grosso
authors: Emiliano
authors: E
authors: Duranti
authors: Maria Rosaria
authors: MR
authors: Metelli
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Gambaccini
authors: Lea
authors: L
authors: Bianchi
authors: Gian Luca
authors: GL
authors: Di Tanna
authors: Giacomo
authors: G
authors: Laffi
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Taddei
authors: Santino
authors: S
authors: Marchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012701:Serotonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
references: Gut. 1990 Aug;31(8):896-8
references: 2387513
references: Gut. 1998 Jun;42(6):845-9
references: 9691924
references: Psychosom Med. 2005 Mar-Apr;67(2):288-94
references: 15784796
references: Gastroenterology. 2006 Feb;130(2):304-11
references: 16472586
references: J Gastroenterol. 2012 Nov;47(11):1177-85
references: 22766747
references: J Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Sep;38(8):658-63
references: 15319647
references: J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Jan;21(1 Pt 1):71-8
references: 16706815
references: Gastroenterology. 1997 Jan;112(1):64-72
references: 8978344
references: Behav Res Ther. 1977;15(5):389-95
references: 612339
references: Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 Oct;95(10):2698-709
references: 11051338
references: Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1997 Apr;11(2):395-402
references: 9146781
references: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1993 Jan;28(1):63-8
references: 8381557
references: Am J Gastroenterol. 1996 May;91(5):906-13
references: 8633579
references: Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2012 Jul;24(7):604-11, e266
references: 22420629
references: Psychosomatics. 1993 May-Jun;34(3):229-34
references: 8493304
references: Gastroenterology. 2003 Mar;124(3):754-61
references: 12612913
references: Gastroenterology. 1995 Mar;108(3):680-6
references: 7875470
references: Postgrad Med J. 2003 Mar;79(929):154-8
references: 12697915
references: Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1998 Jun;21(2):293-307
references: 9670227
references: Gastroenterology. 2004 Mar;126(3):693-702
references: 14988823
references: Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2009 Feb;21(2):149-59
references: 18684212
references: Gut. 2001 Jan;48(1):20-7
references: 11115818
references: Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 Feb;96(2):460-6
references: 11232691
references: Gut. 1998 Jan;42(1):42-6
references: 9505884
references: Am J Gastroenterol. 2003 Dec;98(12):2705-11
references: 14687821
references: Gut. 1999 Sep;45 Suppl 2:II43-7
references: 10457044
references: Acta Med Scand Suppl. 1972;528:1-166
references: 4504638
references: Gastroenterology. 1988 Sep;95(3):701-8
references: 3396817
references: Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1997 Feb;11(1):3-15
references: 9042970
references: Gastroenterology. 2006 Apr;130(5):1480-91
references: 16678561
references: J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2010 Oct;16(4):363-73
references: 21103418
references: Gut. 1999 Sep;45 Suppl 2:II25-30
references: 10457041
references: Gut Pathog. 2010 May 13;2(1):3
references: 20465787
references: Gut. 1995 Oct;37(4):544-51
references: 7489943