Psychological distress and GI symptoms are related to severity of bloating in women with irritable bowel syndrome

Res Nurs Health. 2008 Apr;31(2):98-107. doi: 10.1002/nur.20237.

Abstract

Bloating is a frequent complaint of women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We compared retrospective and daily diary gastrointestinal and psychological distress symptoms in 183 women ages 18-48 in three IBS subgroups: Minimal-Bloating, Mild-Bloating, Moderate-Severe-Bloating. More women with moderate to severe levels of bloating reported a history of hard stools, straining to have a stool, a history of depressive disorders, and more severe daily symptoms of depression and anxiety as compared to women with minimal or mild bloating symptoms. Appraising the level of symptom severity and psychological distress is vital to the selection of appropriate treatment options.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / epidemiology
  • Abdominal Pain / psychology
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Causality
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Constipation / epidemiology
  • Constipation / psychology
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / psychology
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology
  • Diarrhea / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / psychology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Women's Health