Stress raises risk of irritable bowel syndrome

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - After a bout with a stomach bug, the likelihood that a person will go on to develop irritable bowel syndrome seems to go up if he or she is susceptible to stress and anxiety, according to a new study.

People with irritable bowel syndrome (known as IBS) suffer chronic discomfort with cramping, diarrhea or constipation. The causes of IBS are unclear and there has been debate whether it is mostly due to psychological factors or biological triggers, or perhaps a combination.

Dr. Rona Moss-Morris, from the University of Southampton in the UK, and colleagues looked at the impact of psychological factors on the risk of IBS following an episode of gastroenteritis.

They studied 620 patients who had no history of IBS or any serious bowel condition but came down with gastroenteritis caused by a bug called Campylobacter.

The subjects completed a questionnaire at the time of the infection to assess mood and personality factors, and follow-up questionnaires were administered at 3 and 6 months after the infection.

Forty-nine subjects were classified as having IBS at both follow-up visits, the researchers report in the medical journal Gut. Higher levels of perceived stress, anxiety, and negative illness beliefs at the time of infection were all identified as risk factors for IBS.

By contrast, depression and perfectionism did not seem to increase the risk of IBS.

The study is the first to investigate a combination of emotional and cognitive risk factors "relevant for the development of IBS after Campylobacter gastroenteritis," the researchers state.

They conclude, "Gastroenteritis may trigger the symptoms, but cognitions, behavior and emotions may help to prolong and maintain them over time."

SOURCE: Gut, online February 26, 2007.