Psychoemotional disorders associated with irritable bowel syndrome

The association of psychoaffective disorders with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is controversial in the literature. The evaluation of the importance of this association is an aid to the clinician both in terms of understanding the multifactorial pathophysiological mechanism and in clinical terms.Quality of life was impaired in 75% of patients VS 37.5% of controls (p<0.0001). In the patient group, 57.5% had major anxiety disorders VS 8.8% in the control group (p<0.0001). Similarly, in the patient group, 31.2% had major depressive disorders VS 3.8% in the control group (p<0.0001). The mean value of the alexithymia scale in patients was 58.14 ±7 points versus 39.06 ±12 in controls (p<0.0001).In multivariate analysis, the factors independently associated with impaired quality of life were the presence of major anxiety and alexithymia. Those associated with anxiety disorders were a rural origin and the presence of depression. Predictors of depressive disorders were a family history of psychiatric illness and major anxiety.