title: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Is Associated With Irritable Bowel Syndrome in African Americans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychosocial stressors likely play an important role in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The association between IBS and post-trau-matic stress disorder (PTSD) in non-minorities has been described. Our aim was to investigate the potential association between IBS and PTSD in an urban African American population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our institution maintains a longitudinal population-based survey of African Americans (AA). The survey utilizes a complex, stratified sampling design. The study group consisted of adult AA meeting Rome III criteria for IBS of any subtype. The 4-item Primary Care PTSD screener was administered; score of≥ 3 (range, 0-4) was considered positive for PTSD. Depression (Public Health Questionnaire-9 depression) and anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder-7) levels were measured using standardized scales. To assess quality of life, norm-based physical and mental component summary scores from the short-form 36 health survey ver-sion 2 were obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using Complex Sample Module of SPSS after weight-ing of the study sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred nineteen subjects included corresponded to a weighted 21,264 (95% CI, 19,777-22,751) individuals. The preva-lence of IBS in our sample of urban AA was 8.2%. In multivariate regression analysis, female gender, age > 40, higher educa-tional attainment and divorce were independently associated with IBS. Those with IBS were considerably more likely to suffer from PTSD (OR, 4.54; 95% CI, 4.07-5.06). PTSD was independently associated with depression, anxiety, harmful drinking and substance abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In AA, PTSD is independently associated with IBS. PTSD has a significantly negative impact on physical and mental self-assess-ment of quality of life. Evaluation of minorities presenting with functional gastrointestinal disorders should include screening for PTSD.(J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2014;20:523-530).
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Natalya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Kian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makipour
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Amiya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palit
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Frank K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Friedenberg
keywords: African Americans; Irritable bowel syndrome; Rome; Stress disorders, post-traumatic