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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research

Effects of personality traits on the manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome

Authors: Jun Tayama, Naoki Nakaya, Toyohiro Hamaguchi, Tadaaki Tomiie, Masae Shinozaki, Tatsuo Saigo, Susumu Shirabe, Shin Fukudo

Published in: BioPsychoSocial Medicine | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Objective

Previous studies have reported that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) show high neuroticism. However, the precise association between the IBS subtypes and the degree of neuroticism in younger populations is largely unknown. We tested our hypothesis that subjects with diarrhea-predominant IBS may have a higher degree of neuroticism than subjects without IBS or those with other subtypes of IBS. We also verified the additional hypothesis that the severity of neuroticism might be correlated with the severity of IBS in younger populations.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 557 university students, ranging in age from 18 to 21 years. Presence/ absence of IBS and determination of the IBS subtype was by the Rome II Modular Questionnaire, while the severity of IBS was determined by the IBS severity index (IBS-SI). The degree of neuroticism was evaluated using the Maudsely Personality Inventory (MPI). The presence/absence of psychological distress was measured with the K6 scale.

Results

Neuroticism scores in the subjects with diarrhea-predominant IBS were significantly higher than those in the non-IBS subjects or subjects with constipation-predominant IBS. The neuroticism scores were significantly correlated with the IBS-SI scores in all subjects with IBS.

Conclusion

These results suggest that neuroticism is involved in the pathophysiology of IBS in young subjects, especially in that of the diarrhea-predominant subtype.

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Title: Effects of personality traits on the manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Jun Tayama
Naoki Nakaya
Toyohiro Hamaguchi
Tadaaki Tomiie
Masae Shinozaki
Tatsuo Saigo
Susumu Shirabe
Shin Fukudo
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BioPsychoSocial Medicine / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1751-0759
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0759-6-20

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Effects of personality traits on the manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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