A systematic review with meta-analysis of the role of anxiety and depression in irritable bowel syndrome onset.
It is well established that people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have higher levels of anxiety and depression compared with controls. However, the role of these as risk factors is less clearly established. The aims of this systematic review were to investigate: (1) whether anxiety and/or depression predict IBS onset; (2) the size of the relative risk (RR) of anxiety versus depression in IBS onset. Subgroup analyses explored if methodological factors affected the overall findings.



Prospective cohort or case-control studies were included if they: (1) focused on the development of IBS in population-based or gastroenteritis cohorts; (2) explored the effects of anxiety and/or depression at baseline as predictors of IBS onset at a future point. In all, 11 studies were included of which eight recruited participants with a gastrointestinal infection. Meta-analyses were conducted.



The risk of developing IBS was double for anxiety cases at baseline compared with those who were not [RR 2.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.58-3.60]. Similar results were found for depression (RR 2.06, 95% CI 1.44-2.96). Anxiety and depression seemed to play a stronger role in IBS onset in individuals with a gastrointestinal infection although this could be attributed to other differences in methodology, such as use of diagnostic interviews rather than self-report.



The findings suggest that self-reported anxiety and depression provide a twofold risk for IBS onset. There is less support for the role of anxiety or depressive disorder diagnosed using clinical interview. These findings may have implications for the development of interventions focused on IBS prevention and treatment.
Health Psychology Section,Department of Psychology,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,5th Floor Bermondsey Wing,Guy's Hospital Campus,London Bridge,London SE1 9RT,UK.
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Sibelli
Department of Psychological Medicine,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,Weston Education Centre,Cutcombe Road,London SE5 9RJ,UK.
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Chalder
Primary Care and Population Sciences,Faculty of Medicine,University of Southampton,Aldermoor Health Centre,Aldermoor Close,Southampton SO16 5ST,UK.
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H
Everitt
Health Psychology Section,Department of Psychology,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,5th Floor Bermondsey Wing,Guy's Hospital Campus,London Bridge,London SE1 9RT,UK.
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Workman
Department of Psychological Medicine,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,Chronic Fatigue Research and Treatment Unit,Mapother House,De Crespigny Park,Denmark Hill,London SE5 8AZ,UK.
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Windgassen
Health Psychology Section,Department of Psychology,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience,King's College London,5th Floor Bermondsey Wing,Guy's Hospital Campus,London Bridge,London SE1 9RT,UK.
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Moss-Morris
D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors
Anxiety; depression; irritable bowel syndrome; meta-analyses; systematic reviews