engleski

The role of stress in IBS symptom severity

Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders. Consistent with the biopsychosocial model, it is considered that stress can trigger or exacerbate IBS symptoms. The aim of this study was to test the relationship of daily stressful events and symptom severity in IBS patients. Methods: A total of 49 patients (age M=45, 11 ; SD=14, 01 ; F=38) participated in the study and completed a set of questionnaires examining neuroticism (BFI), trait anxiety (STAI-T) and depression (BDI-II). The participants also kept a diary of their mood (PA and NA), symptom severity and daily stressful events for 2 weeks. Results: Cross- correlation analyses of daily stress and symptom severity were performed on the intra- individual level. Four different patterns of relationships were found in different subgroups of participants: positive cross-correlations of symptom severity and stress intensity on the same day ; higher symptom severity on days following stressful days ; lower symptom severity on days following stressful days ; and lower stress intensity on days following severe symptoms. A model of symptom exacerbation was tested on the inter-individual level. It showed that average stress intensity predicts average symptom severity. Neuroticism and anxiety were not significant predictors of symptom severity, while depression showed a marginally significant relationship with symptom severity, mediated by stress intensity. Conclusions: Daily stressful events seem to be related to symptom severity, although different relationships are found for different subgroups of patients. This finding, combined with the relationship of depression and symptom severity via daily stress, indicates that interventions focusing on the patients’ mood could help in reducing their symptom severity.

irritable bowel syndrome ; daily stress ; symptom severity

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