Irritable bowel syndrome subtypes differ in body awareness, psychological symptoms and biochemical stress markers

A Mendelian randomization study on the effects of plasma lipids on irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia

Although functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) is a common clinical condition, its risk factors remain unclear. We performed a Mendelian randomization study to explore the association between plasma lipids and the risk of FGID. Instrumental variables closely related to six plasma lipids were obtained from the corresponding genome-wide association studies, and summary-level data on FGID, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional dyspepsia (FD), were extracted from the FinnGen study. The primary inverse variance weighted method and other supplementary analyses were used to evaluate the causal relationship between diverse plasma lipids and FGID. For each increase in the standard deviation of triglyceride levels, there was a 12.0% increase in the risk of IBS rather than that of FD. Low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A, and apolipoprotein B levels were not associated with the risk of IBS or FD. Through this study, we identified the causal role of triglycerides in the pathogenesis of IBS, which could benefit further basic and clinical research.

Zonulin levels are associated with cortisol, dopamine, and serotonin levels in irritable bowel syndrome

Increase intestinal permeability is one of the main mechanisms for the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The role of stress and nutrition factors is considered as key modifiable factors contributing to the development of increase intestinal permeability. Purpose of the study: to evaluate the content of a marker of increased intestinal permeability (zonulin in feces) in relation to dietary habits, levels of anxiety and depression, levels of stress hormones (cortisol in saliva) and neurotransmitters (serotonin in blood serum, dopamine in blood plasma) in patients with IBS. Materials and methods: an open cohort prospective study was conducted with the inclusion of 263 patients with an established diagnosis of IBS. The control group consisted of 40 healthy volunteers. All individuals included in the study were assessed for diet and eating habits, the severity of anxiety and depression, including the level of specific anxiety in relation to gastrointestinal symptoms, and quality of life. In addition, the levels of cortisol in the morning and evening portions of saliva, serum serotonin, plasma dopamine and fecal zonulin were assessed. Results: in patients with IBS, the marker of increased intestinal permeability (zonulin in feces) is closely related to the nature of nutrition, anxiety levels, cortisol and serotonin secretion, and is also associated with the development of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and the severity of the disease.

Eating Habits, Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Clinical and Laboratory Comparisons

Aim: to assess the level of stress hormones (cortisol in saliva), neurotransmitters (serotonin in blood serum, dopamine in blood plasma) in relation to eating habits, anxiety and depression levels in patients with IBS.

Materials and methods. An open cohort prospective study was conducted with the inclusion of 263 patients with an established diagnosis of IBS, among them 189 (71.9 %) women and 74 (28.1 %) men. The average age of patients with IBS was 29 [25; 35] years. The control group included 40 healthy volunteers. All individuals included in the study were assessed for diet and eating habits using the WHO CINDI program questionnaire, “Information on Nutrition and Eating Behavior”, the severity of anxiety and depression according to the HADS questionnaire, the level of specific anxiety in relation to gastrointestinal symptoms according to the VSI questionnaire, quality of life according to the IBS-QoL questionnaire. In addition, the enzyme immunoassay method was used to assess the levels of cortisol in the morning and evening portions of saliva, serotonin in the blood serum and dopamine in the blood plasma.

Results. Among patients with IBS there is a statistically significantly higher level of cortisol in the morning and evening portions of saliva (U = 19.5, p < 0.001 and U = 111.5, p < 0.001, respectively), serotonin in blood serum (U = 269.0, p = 0.042) and lower plasma dopamine levels (U = 93.5, p = 0.0002) compared with controls. The mean salivary cortisol level among patients with IBS was 45.39 [29.86; 70.10] ng/ml in the morning and 19.21 [13.98; 23.50] ng/ml in the evening, while in the group of healthy individuals it was 19.0 [16.5; 21.7] and 9.7 [8.5; 10.5] ng/ml, respectively. The average content of serotonin in blood serum in patients with IBS was 188.78 [150.41; 230.32] ng/ml, among healthy individuals — 142.80 [130.52; 154.15] ng/ml. The average content of dopamine in blood plasma in patients with IBS was 28.83 [20.08; 41.54] ng/ml, in healthy individuals — 58.20 [48.15; 66.62] ng/ml.

Conclusion. In patients with IBS the secretion of the stress hormone (cortisol) and neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine) is closely related to the nature of nutrition, the level of anxiety and depression, and is also associated with the clinical variant and severity of the course of the disease.

Positive psychological well-being and clinical characteristics in IBS: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Psychological factors (e.g., depression, anxiety) are known to contribute to the development and maintenance of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Less is known, however, about the role of positive psychological well-being (PPWB) in IBS. Accordingly, we completed a systematic review of the literature examining relationships between PPWB and clinical characteristics in IBS.

METHOD

A systematic review using search terms related to PPWB and IBS from inception through July 28, 2022, was completed. Quality was assessed with the NIH Quality Assessment Tool. A narrative synthesis of findings, rather than meta-analysis, was completed due to study heterogeneity.

RESULTS

22 articles with a total of 4285 participants with IBS met inclusion criteria. Individuals with IBS had lower levels of PPWB (e.g., resilience, positive affect, self-efficacy, emotion regulation) compared to healthy populations, which in turn was associated with reduced physical and mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Limited exploration of potential biological mechanisms underlying these relationships has been described.

CONCLUSIONS

PPWB is diminished in individuals with IBS compared to other populations, and greater PPWB is linked to superior physical, psychological, and HRQoL outcomes. Interventions to increase PPWB may have the potential to improve IBS-related outcomes.

REGISTRATION

Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42022304767.

Enhancing Atorvastatin In Vivo Oral Bioavailability in the Presence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Using Supercritical Fluid Technology Guided by wbPBPK Modeling in Rat and Human

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common disorders that can change the body's physiology and drugs pharmacokinetics. Solid dispersion (SD) preparation using supercritical fluid technology (SFT) has many advantages. Our study aimed to explore the effect of IBS and IBD on atorvastatin (ATV) pharmacokinetics, enhance ATV oral bioavailability (BCS II drug) using SFT, and analyze drug-disease-formulation interaction using a whole-body physiologically based pharmacokinetic (wbPBPK) model in rat and human. A novel ATV formulation was prepared using SFT and characterized in vitro and in vivo in healthy, IBS, and IBD rats. The resulting ATV plasma levels were analyzed using a combination of conventional and wbPBPK approaches. The novel formulation increased ATV solubility by 20-fold and resulted in a zero-order release of up to 95%. Both IBS and IBD increased ATV exposure after oral and intravenous administration by more than 30%. The novel SFT formulation increased ATV bioavailability by 28, 14, and 18% in control, IBD, and IBD rat groups and resulted in more consistent exposure as compared to raw ATV solution. Higher improvements in ATV bioavailability of more than 2-fold upon receiving the novel SFT formulation were predicted by the human wbPBPK model as compared to receiving the conventional tablets. Finally, the established wbPBPK model could describe ATV ADME in the presence of IBS and IBD after oral administration of raw ATV and using the novel SFT formula and can help scale the optimized ATV dosing regimens in the presence of IBS and IBD from rats to humans.

A Starch- and Sucrose-Reduced Diet in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Leads to Lower Circulating Levels of PAI-1 and Visfatin: A Randomized Controlled Study

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms. Overweight and increased risk of metabolic syndromes/diabetes are observed in IBS, conditions associated with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and visfatin. The aim of this study was to measure blood levels of AXIN1, cholecystokinin (CCK), enkephalin, ghrelin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), PAI-1, and visfatin before and after a 4-week intervention with a starch- and sucrose-reduced diet (SSRD). A total of 105 IBS patients were randomized to either SSRD (n = 80) or ordinary diet (n = 25). Questionnaires were completed, and blood was analyzed for AXIN1 and hormones. AXIN1 (p = 0.001) and active ghrelin levels (p = 0.025) were lower in IBS than in healthy volunteers at baseline, whereas CCK and enkephalin levels were higher (p < 0.001). In the intervention group, total IBS-symptom severity score (IBS-SSS), specific gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological well-being, and the influence of intestinal symptoms on daily life were improved during the study, and weight decreased (p < 0.001 for all), whereas only constipation (p = 0.045) and bloating (p = 0.001) were improved in the control group. PAI-1 levels tended to be decreased in the intervention group (p = 0.066), with a difference in the decrease between groups (p = 0.022). Visfatin levels were decreased in the intervention group (p = 0.007). There were few correlations between hormonal levels and symptoms. Thus, this diet not only improves IBS symptoms but also seems to have a general health-promoting effect.

Theories behind the effect of starch‑ and sucrose‑reduced diets on gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (Review)

Increased amounts of starch and sugar have been added to the diet in the Western world during the last decades. Undigested carbohydrates lead to bacterial fermentation and gas production with diffusion of water, causing abdominal bloating, pain and diarrhea. Therefore, dietary advice is the first line of treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disease characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits without any organic findings. Recently, a diet with a reduction of starch and sucrose led to a marked effect on gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The mechanism is unknown, but three possible mechanisms are presented in the present review. First, functional variants of the enzyme sucrase‑isomaltase (SI) have been described in IBS. A subgroup of patients with IBS may thus suffer from partial SI deficiency with reduced digestion of starch and sucrose. Second, fructose absorption is less efficient than glucose absorption, which may lead to a physiological fructose malabsorption when ingesting high amounts of sucrose. A third mechanism is that high‑sugar diets causing hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and weight gain have led to painful neuropathy in animal models; whereas, improved metabolic control in humans has led to improvement of neuropathy. Starch‑ and sucrose‑reduced diets lead to decreased levels of C‑peptide, insulin, gastric inhibitory peptide, leptin and weight reduction. These metabolic changes may reduce the excitability of the hypersensitive nervous system often found in IBS and, thereby, lead to the reduced symptoms found after the diet. In conclusion, further studies are needed to investigate the pathophysiology behind development of symptoms after starch and sucrose intake, and the mechanisms behind symptom relief after reduced intake.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Body Perception Questionnaire

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the Body Perception Questionnaire Short Form (BPQ-SF) into Italian and to assess its psychometric properties in a sample of Italian subjects.

METHODS

A forward-backward method was used for translation. 493 adults were recruited for psychometric analysis. Structural validity was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis and a hypothesis testing approach. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega. Measurement invariance analysis was applied with an age-matched American sample.

RESULTS

The single-factor structure fit the awareness subscale (RMSEA = .036, CFI = .983, TLI = .982). Autonomic reactivity (ANSR) was well-described by supra- and sub-diaphragmatic subscales (RMSEA = .041, CFI = .984, TLI = .982). All subscales were positively correlated (r range: .50-.56) and had good internal consistency (McDonald's Omega range: .86-.92, Cronbach's alpha range: .88-.91). Measurement invariance analysis for the Awareness model showed significant results (p<0.001) in each step (weak, strong and strict) whereas the ANSR showed significant results (p<0.001) only for the strong and strict steps.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the Italian version of the BPQ as having consistent psychometric properties in comparison with other languages.

Somatization in patients with predominant diarrhoea irritable bowel syndrome: the role of the intestinal barrier function and integrity

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterised by gastrointestinal (GI) and psychological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, and somatization). Depression and anxiety, but not somatization, have already been associated with altered intestinal barrier function, increased LPS, and dysbiosis. The study aimed to investigate the possible link between somatization and intestinal barrier in IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D) patients.

Methods

Forty-seven IBS-D patients were classified as having low somatization (LS = 19) or high somatization (HS = 28) according to the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), (cut-off score = 63). The IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) questionnaires were administered to evaluate GI symptoms. The intestinal barrier function was studied by the lactulose/mannitol absorption test, faecal and serum zonulin, serum intestinal fatty-acid binding protein, and diamine oxidase. Inflammation was assessed by assaying serum Interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10), and tumour necrosis factor-α. Dysbiosis was assessed by the urinary concentrations of indole and skatole and serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS). All data were analysed using a non-parametric test.

Results

The GI symptoms profiles were significantly more severe, both as a single symptom and as clusters of IBS-SSS and GSRS, in HS than LS patients. This finding was associated with impaired small intestinal permeability and increased faecal zonulin levels. Besides, HS patients showed significantly higher IL-8 and lowered IL-10 concentrations than LS patients. Lastly, circulating LPS levels and the urinary concentrations of indole were higher in HS than LS ones, suggesting a more pronounced imbalance of the small intestine in the former patients.

Conclusions

IBS is a multifactorial disorder needing complete clinical, psychological, and biochemical evaluations.

Trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03423069.

A carbohydrate-restricted diet for patients with irritable bowel syndrome lowers serum C-peptide, insulin, and leptin without any correlation with symptom reduction

Alterations in gut endocrine cells and hormone levels have been measured in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The hypothesis of the present study was that hormone levels would change after 4 weeks of a starch- and sucrose-reduced diet (SSRD) intervention corresponding to decreased carbohydrate intake and symptoms. Among 105 IBS patients from primary and tertiary healthcare, 80 were randomized to SSRD, while 25 followed their ordinary diet. Food diaries, Rome IV, and IBS-symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) questionnaires were completed, and blood samples were collected at baseline and after the intervention. Serum C-peptide, gastric inhibitory peptide, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1, insulin, leptin, luteinizing hormone, polypeptide YY, and glucose were measured, along with the prevalence of autoantibodies against gonadotropin-releasing hormone; its precursor, progonadoliberin-2, and receptor; and tenascin C. Carbohydrate intake was lower in the intervention group than in controls at week 4 (median: 88 [66-128] g vs 182 [89-224] g; P < .001). The change in carbohydrate intake, adjusted for weight, was associated with a decrease in C-peptide (β: 14.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.12-24.75) and insulin (β: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04-0.32) levels. Glucose levels remained unchanged. The IBS-SSS scores were lower in the intervention group but not in controls (P < .001), without any association with changes in hormone concentrations. There was no difference in autoantibody prevalence between patients and healthy controls. In conclusion, the hypothesis that reduced carbohydrate intake corresponded to altered hormonal levels in IBS was accepted; however, there was no relationship between hormonal concentrations and symptoms.

Comparisons between Manual Lymph Drainage, Abdominal Massage, and Electrical Stimulation on Functional Constipation Outcomes: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Evidence supports abdominal massage (AM) or electrical stimulation (ES) as effective in treating functional constipation (FC). Manual lymph drainage (MLD) may also be beneficial, however, it was not previously investigated or compared to ES and AM.

METHODS

Sixteen college-aged males and 36 females were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned to MLD, AM or ES. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures for total power (TP), high frequency (HF), low frequency and LF/HF ratio assessed ANS outcomes. state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) and stress response inventory (SRI) assessed psychological factors and bowel movement frequency (BMF) and duration (BMD) were recorded daily.

RESULTS

MLD significantly improved all ANS measures (p≤0.01); AM significantly improved LF, HF and LF/HF ratios (p = 0.04); and ES significantly improved LF (p = 0.1). STAI measures improved, but not significantly in all groups. SRI improved significantly from MLD (p < 0.01), AM (p = 0.04) and ES (p < 0.01), but changes were not significant between groups. BMD improved significantly in all groups (p≤ 0.02). BMF improved significantly only following MLD and AM (p < 0.1), but differences between groups were not significant (p = 0.39).

CONCLUSIONS

MLD significantly reduced FC symptoms and MLD had greater improvements than AM or ES.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Neurological Deficiencies: Is There A Relationship? The Possible Relevance of the Oxidative Stress Status

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders, exhibiting complex and controversial pathological features. Both oxidative stress and inflammation-related reactive oxygen species production may be involved in IBS pathological development. Thus, we focused on several aspects regarding the causes of oxidative stress occurrence in IBS. Additionally, in the molecular context of oxidative changes, we tried to discuss these possible neurological implications in IBS. Methods: The literature search included the main available databases (e.g., ScienceDirect, Pubmed/Medline, Embase, and Google Scholar). Articles in the English language were taken into consideration. Our screening was conducted based on several words such as “irritable bowel syndrome”, “gut brain axis”, “oxidative stress”, “neuroendocrine”, and combinations. Results: While no consistent evidence suggests clear pathway mechanisms, it seems that the inflammatory response may also be relevant in IBS. The mild implication of oxidative stress in IBS has been described through clinical studies and some animal models, revealing changes in the main markers such as antioxidant status and peroxidation markers. Moreover, it seems that the neurological structures involved in the brain-gut axis may be affected in IBS rather than the local gut tissue and functionality. Due to a gut-brain axis bidirectional communication error, a correlation between neurological impairment, emotional over-responsiveness, mild inflammatory patterns, and oxidative stress can be suggested. Conclusions: Therefore, there is a possible correlation between neurological impairment, emotional over-responsiveness, mild inflammatory patterns, and oxidative stress that are not followed by tissue destruction in IBS patients. Moreover, it is not yet clear whether oxidative stress, inflammation, or neurological impairments are key determinants or in which way these three interact in IBS pathology. However, the conditions in which oxidative imbalances occur may be an interesting research lead in order to find possible explanations for IBS development.

Relevance of Sex and Subtype in Patients With IBS: An Exploratory Study of Gene Expression

BACKGROUND

Psychological state, stress level, and gastrointestinal function are intricately related and relevant to symptom exacerbation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but genetic contributors to this brain-gut connection are not fully understood. The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare gene expression in participants with IBS to that of healthy controls (HC) and to examine patterns of expression in participants with IBS by sex and IBS subtype.

METHOD

Participants were recruited to an ongoing protocol at the National Institutes of Health. Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests. Expression levels of 84 genes were evaluated in peripheral whole blood using Custom RT2 Profiler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Arrays, and data analysis was performed through GeneGlobe Data Analysis Center.

RESULTS

Participants with IBS (n = 27) reported greater levels of perceived stress (p = .037) and differed in expression values of ±2 for the genes ADIPOR1, ADIPOR2, CNR2, COMT, OXTR, and PPARA compared to HC (n = 43). Further analyses by sex and IBS subtype revealed differential patterns of gene expression related to the endocannabinoid system, cytokines, stress, and sex steroid hormones.

CONCLUSIONS

Diverse yet interconnected processes such as metabolism, inflammation, immunity, social behavior, and pain are associated with differences in gene expression between participants with IBS and HC. These findings lend support for genomic associations with the brain-gut connection in patients with IBS and highlight the relevance of sex and IBS subtype in performing such analyses.

Cognitive and Behavioral Differences Between Subtypes in Refractory Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal syndrome consisting of different bowel pattern subtypes: diarrhea predominant (IBS-D), constipation predominant (IBS-C), and alternating (IBS-A). This paper aimed to identify whether (a) psychological factors implicated in the cognitive behavioral model of IBS were differentially associated with bowel pattern subtypes, (b) whether there were differences in symptom severity and work and social adjustment across the IBS-subtypes. Analysis was conducted on baseline data of 557 individuals with refractory IBS recruited into the Assessing Cognitive Therapy in Irritable Bowel (ACTIB) randomized controlled trial. Correlations assessed the associations between psychological factors, stool patterns, symptom severity, and work and social adjustment. Hierarchical regressions identified whether cognitive and behavioral factors were significantly associated with frequency of loose/watery stools, hard/lumpy stools and symptom severity while controlling for affective (anxiety and depression) and demographic factors (age, gender, symptom duration). One-way ANOVAs were conducted to assess differences across Rome III classified subtypes (IBS-A, D and C) in cognitive, behavioral, affective, symptom severity, and adjustment measures. Psychological factors were significantly associated with symptom severity and work and social adjustment. Increased avoidance behavior and unhelpful gastrointestinal (GI) cognitions were significantly associated with higher frequency of loose/watery stools. Increased control behaviors were associated with higher frequency of hard/lumpy stools. Cognitive and behavioral differences were significant across the Rome III classified IBS subtypes. There were no differences in anxiety, depression, overall symptom severity, or work and social adjustment. The results are discussed in terms of their utility in tailoring cognitive behavioral treatments to IBS subtypes.

Increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor is correlated with visceral hypersensitivity in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Visceral hypersensitivity is considered to play a vital role in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Neurotrophins have drawn much attention in IBS recently. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was found to mediate visceral hypersensitivity via facilitating sensory nerve growth in pre-clinical studies. We hypothesized that BDNF might play a role in the pathogenesis of diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D).

AIM

To investigate BDNF levels in IBS-D patients and its role in IBS-D pathophysiology.

METHODS

Thirty-one IBS-D patients meeting the Rome IV diagnostic criteria and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. Clinical and psychological assessments were first conducted using standardized questionnaires. Visceral sensitivity to rectal distension was tested using a high-resolution manometry system. Colonoscopic examination was performed and four mucosal pinch biopsies were taken from the rectosigmoid junction. Mucosal BDNF expression and nerve fiber density were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Mucosal BDNF mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Correlations between these parameters were examined.

RESULTS

The patients had a higher anxiety score [median (interquartile range), 6.0 (2.0-10.0) vs 3.0 (1.0-4.0), P = 0.003] and visceral sensitivity index score [54.0 (44.0-61.0) vs 21.0 (17.3-30.0), P < 0.001] than controls. The defecating sensation threshold [60.0 (44.0-80.0) vs 80.0 (61.0-100.0), P = 0.009], maximum tolerable threshold [103.0 (90.0-128.0) vs 182.0 (142.5-209.3), P < 0.001] and rectoanal inhibitory reflex threshold [30.0 (20.0-30.0) vs 30.0 (30.0-47.5), P = 0.032] were significantly lower in IBS-D patients. Intestinal mucosal BDNF protein [3.46E-2 (3.06E-2-4.44E-2) vs 3.07E-2 (2.91E-2-3.48E-2), P = 0.031] and mRNA [1.57 (1.31-2.61) vs 1.09 (0.74-1.42), P = 0.001] expression and nerve fiber density [4.12E-2 (3.07E-2-7.46E-2) vs 1.98E-2 (1.21E-2-4.25E-2), P = 0.002] were significantly elevated in the patients. Increased BDNF expression was positively correlated with abdominal pain and disease severity and negatively correlated with visceral sensitivity parameters.

CONCLUSION

Elevated mucosal BDNF may participate in the pathogenesis of IBS-D via facilitating mucosal nerve growth and increasing visceral sensitivity.

Emotional overactivity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Negativity is often observed in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). No study has examined their emotional expressiveness as a marker of emotional reactivity. We investigated IBS patients' vulnerability to an emotional load by associating their expressiveness with psychological and neurophysiological assessments. We hypothesized that IBS would be characterized by a lack of expressiveness coupled with high scores in psychological and neurophysiological parameters.

METHODS

We assessed the emotional facial expressions (EMFACS), psychological (anxiety, depression, alexithymia), and neurophysiological (cortisol, heart rate variability (HRV)) parameters of 25 IBS patients and 26 healthy controls (HC) while they watched fear-eliciting movie extracts.

KEY RESULTS

Overall, the task elicited an increase in state anxiety and consistent HRV responses. However, IBS patients differed from HC as they displayed more sadness and tended to display more rage. Contrary to HC, IBS patients showed an increase in heart rate and a decrease in parasympathetic regulation, reflecting an enhanced responsiveness corroborated by higher scores in depression and state anxiety. Consistent with their higher difficulty in identifying feelings, a component of alexithymia positively correlated with their expressions of rage, they were not aware of their increase in anxiety during the task, whereas HC were. No linear relationship between patients' expressions and their neurophysiological responses was found.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Irritable bowel syndrome patients displayed greater emotional expressiveness with negative prevalence. This reflects an emotional vulnerability potentially related to low regulation skills and underscores the importance of considering the central dysregulation hypothesis in IBS as a promising avenue of research.

Perceived Stress, Its Physiological Correlates, and Quality of Life in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, common disorder of the gastrointestinal tract associated with high psychological comorbidity and diminished quality of life. Patients with IBS display a heightened sensitivity to stress, although the literature is inconsistent as to whether they have a dysregulated stress response. The purpose of the present investigation, a substudy of a larger research effort, was to examine physiological correlates of perceived stress in patients with IBS (cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone) and to explore associations between perceived stress and quality of life. A total of 101 participants (35 with IBS [predominant subtypes IBS-constipation and IBS-diarrhea] and 66 healthy controls [HCs]) completed self-report inventories regarding perceived stress and quality of life, and fasting peripheral blood was drawn. Participants with IBS did not differ from the HC in demographic or physiological measures but did differ in psychological measures, reporting significantly higher levels of perceived stress and lower levels of quality of life. Perceived stress and quality of life were not significantly associated in IBS participants. However, differential findings of the stress response were found within IBS participants by sex, race, and subtype. These findings illustrate the heterogeneity of the IBS patient population, underscore the necessity of evaluating larger sample sizes and increasing the diversity of such samples to include males and ethnic minorities, and demonstrate the importance of taking an individualized approach to evaluation and treatment in the IBS patient population.

The Increased Level of Depression and Anxiety in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients Compared with Healthy Controls: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients commonly experience psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. This meta-analysis sought to compare depression and anxiety levels between IBS patients and healthy controls.

METHODS

We searched major electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane library) to find comparative studies on IBS patients and healthy controls. The primary outcome was a standardized mean difference (SMD) of anxiety and depression levels; sub-group analyses were conducted according to IBS-subtypes.

RESULTS

In total, 2293 IBS patients and 4951 healthy controls from 27 studies were included. In random effect analysis, depression and anxiety levels were significantly higher in IBS patients (pooled SMD = 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62-0.90; P < 0.001; I2 = 77.2% and pooled SMD = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.67-1.01; P < 0.001; I2 = 85.6%, respectively). Both analyses' funnel plots showed symmetry. In meta-regression analysis, heterogeneity was due to the studied region and questionnaire type for both depression and anxiety. In sub-group analyses of IBS-subtype, the pooled SMDs of depression and anxiety levels (IBS with predominant constipation: 0.83 and 0.81, IBS with predominant diarrhea: 0.73 and 0.65, and IBS with mixed bowel habits: 0.62 and 0.75; P < 0.001, respectively) were significantly higher in all IBS-subtypes.

CONCLUSIONS

The present meta-analysis showed depression and anxiety levels to be higher in IBS patients than in healthy controls, regardless of IBS-subtype. However, the gender effect on psychological factors among IBS patients could not be determined and should be evaluated in prospective studies.

Psychometry and Pescatori projective test in coloproctological patients

Background

Psychological assessment is not commonly performed nor easily accepted by coloproctological patients. Our aim was to evaluate the psychological component of coloproctological disorders using uncommon tools.

Methods

The 21-Item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Pescatori projective test were applied to coloproctological outpatients of the Gastroenterology Department of our hospital as well as to healthy volunteers.

Results

Seventy patients (median age 47 years, 22 male) divided in 4 groups (functional constipation, constipated irritable bowel syndrome, benign anorectal disease and perianal Crohn’s disease) and 52 healthy volunteers (age 45 years, 18 male) completed the tests. Proctological patients showed higher scores of depression (P<0.001), anxiety (P<0.001), and stress (P<0.001) compared to healthy participants. Compared to the control group, patients with functional constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and perianal Crohn’s disease maintained the highest scores in all subscales (P<0.05), while patients with benign anorectal disease only had higher anxiety and stress (P<0.001) scores. The patients’ also showed lower scores in the Pescatori projective test (P=0.012). A weak association between the projective test and the depression subscale was found (P=0.05).

Conclusion

Proctological patients had higher scores of depression, anxiety and stress and lower scores in the Pescatori projective test compared to healthy controls.

Economic burden of irritable bowel syndrome in China

AIM

To estimate annual direct and indirect costs for patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and subtypes.

METHODS

Patients completed a standardized questionnaire concerning usage of healthcare resources, travel costs, meals, and productivity loss of patients when seeking treatment for IBS. Total annual costs per patient were calculated as the sum of direct (including medical and nonmedical) and indirect costs. Total annual costs per patient among various IBS subtypes were compared. Analysis of variance and bootstrapped independent sample t-tests were performed to determine differences between groups after controlling for IBS subtypes.

RESULTS

A total of 105 IBS patients (64.80% female), mean age of 57.12 years ± 10.31 years), mean disease duration of 4.31 years ± 5.40 years, were included. Total annual costs per patient were estimated as CNY18262.84 (USD2933.08). Inpatient and outpatient healthcare use were major cost drivers, accounting for 46.41%and 23.36% of total annual costs, respectively. Productivity loss accounted for 25.32% of total annual costs. The proportions of direct and indirect costs were similar to published studies in other countries. Nationally, the total costs of managing IBS would amount to CNY123.83 billion (USD1.99 billion). Among the IBS subtypes, total annual costs per patient of IBS-M was highest at CNY18891.18 (USD3034). Furthermore, there was significant difference in productivity loss among IBS subtypes (P = 0.031).

CONCLUSION

IBS imposes a huge economic burden on patients and healthcare systems, which could account for 3.3% of the total healthcare budget for the entire Chinese nation. More than two-thirds of total annual costs of IBS consist of inpatient and outpatient healthcare use. Among the subtypes, IBS-M patients appear to have the greatest economic burden but require further confirmation.

Anxiety, depression and distress among irritable bowel syndrome and their subtypes: An epidemiological population based study

Background:

Psychiatric disorders are common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We conducted this study to investigate the relationship of IBS and their subtypes with some of psychological factors.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was performed among 4763 staff of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2011. Modified ROME III questionnaire and Talley Bowel Disease Questionnaire were used to evaluate IBS symptoms. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and 12-item General Health Questionnaire were utilized to assess anxiety, depression and psychological distress. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association of psychological states and IBS in the total subject and both genders.

Results:

About, 4763 participants with mean age 36/58 ± 8/09 were included the 2106 males and 2657 females. Three thousand and seven hundred and seventy-six (81.2%) and 2650 (57.2%) participants were married and graduated respectively. Subtype analysis of IBS and its relationship with anxiety, depression and distress comparing the two genders can be observed that: IBS and clinically-significant IBS have higher anxiety, depression symptoms, and distress than the subject without IBS (P < 0.001). Women with IBS, have higher scores than men (P < 0.001). Compared to other subtypes, mixed IBS subtype has a higher anxiety, depression, and distress score.

Conclusion:

A high prevalence of anxiety, depression symptoms and distress in our subjects emphasize the importance of the psychological evaluation of the patients with IBS, in order to better management of the patients and may also help to reduce the burden of health care costs.

Personality traits and emotional patterns in irritable bowel syndrome

The review focuses on those personality traits (neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness), constructs (alexithymia and distressed - Type D personality) and emotional patterns (negative and positive) that are of particular concern in health psychology, with the aim to highlight their potential role on the pathogenesis, onset, symptom clusters, clinical course, and outcome of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Personality traits and emotional patterns play key roles in affecting autonomic, immune, inflammatory, and endocrine functions, thus contributing not only to IBS clinical expression and symptomatic burden, but also to disease physiopathology. In this sense, psychological treatments should address those personality traits and emotional features that are constitutive of, and integral to IBS. The biopsychosocial model of illness applied to IBS acknowledges the interaction between biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors in relation to pain and functional disability. A holistic approach to IBS should take into account the heterogeneous nature of the disorder, and differentiate treatments for different types of IBS, also considering the marked individual differences in prevalent personality traits and emotional patterns. Beyond medications, and lifestyle/dietary interventions, psychological and educational treatments may provide the optimal chance of addressing clinical symptoms, comorbid conditions, and quality of life in IBS patients.

The effect of sex and irritable bowel syndrome on HPA axis response and peripheral glucocorticoid receptor expression

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been reported in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Enhanced HPA axis response has been associated with reduced glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mediated negative feedback inhibition. We aimed to study the effects of IBS status, sex, or presence of early adverse life events (EAL) on the cortisol response to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and on GR mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

METHODS

Rome III+ IBS patients and healthy controls underwent CRF (1μg/kg ovine) and ACTH (250μg) stimulation tests with serial plasma ACTH and cortisol levels measured (n=116). GR mRNA levels were measured using quantitative PCR (n=143). Area under the curve (AUC) and linear mixed effects models were used to compare ACTH and cortisol response measured across time between groups.

RESULTS

There were divergent effects of IBS on the cortisol response to ACTH by sex. In men, IBS was associated with an increased AUC (p=0.009), but in women AUC was blunted in IBS (p=0.006). Men also had reduced GR mRNA expression (p=0.007). Cumulative exposure to EALs was associated with an increased HPA response. Lower GR mRNA was associated with increased pituitary HPA response and increased severity of overall symptoms and abdominal pain in IBS.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the importance of considering sex in studies of IBS and the stress response in general. Our findings also provide support for PBMC GR mRNA expression as a peripheral marker of central HPA response.

Early life stress elicits visceral hyperalgesia and functional reorganization of pain circuits in adult rats

Early life stress (ELS) is a risk factor for developing functional gastrointestinal disorders, and has been proposed to be related to a central amplification of sensory input and resultant visceral hyperalgesia. We sought to characterize ELS-related changes in functional brain responses during acute noxious visceral stimulation. Neonatal rats (males/females) were exposed to limited bedding (ELS) or standard bedding (controls) on postnatal days 2–9. Age 10–11 weeks, animals were implanted with venous cannulas and transmitters for abdominal electromyography (EMG). Cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was mapped during colorectal distension (CRD) using [¹⁴C]-iodoantipyrine autoradiography, and analyzed in three-dimensionally reconstructed brains by statistical parametric mapping and functional connectivity. EMG responses to CRD were increased after ELS, with no evidence of a sex difference. ELS rats compared to controls showed a greater significant positive correlation of EMG with amygdalar rCBF. Factorial analysis revealed a significant main effect of ‘ELS’ on functional activation of nodes within the pain pathway (somatosensory, insular, cingulate and prefrontal cortices, locus coeruleus/lateral parabrachial n. [LC/LPB], periaqueductal gray, sensory thalamus), as well as in the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus. In addition, ELS resulted in an increase in the number of significant functional connections (i.e. degree centrality) between regions within the pain circuit, including the amygdala, LC/LPB, insula, anterior ventral cingulate, posterior cingulate (retrosplenium), and stria terminalis, with decreases noted in the sensory thalamus and the hippocampus. Sex differences in rCBF were less broadly expressed, with significant differences noted at the level of the cortex, amygdala, dorsal hippocampus, raphe, sensory thalamus, and caudate-putamen. ELS showed a sexually dimorphic effect (‘Sex x ELS’ interaction) at the LC/LPB complex, globus pallidus, hypothalamus, raphe, septum, caudate-putamen and cerebellum. Our results suggest that ELS alters functional activation of the thalamo-cortico-amydala pathway, as well as the emotional-arousal network (amygdala, locus coeruleus), with evidence that ELS may additionally show sexually dimorphic effects on brain function.

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Early life stress (ELS) elicits visceral hyperalgesia in adult offspring.

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ELS alters functional activation of the thalamo-cortico-amydala pathway.

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ELS shows a sexually dimorphic effects on brain function.

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Functional imaging-based endpoints promise improved animal-to-human translation.

Health related quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome patients, Kashan, Iran: A case control study

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome has significant impacts on the quality of life (QOL) but IBS subtypes may be different in QOL. This study aimed to assess QOL in IBS subtypes and also two prevalent questionnaires applied to evaluate the QOL in IBS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this case-control study conducted in Kashan in 2010-2013. One hundred and eighty- eight patients with IBS with 215 of non-IBS patients were included in the baseline. Subjects divided into three subtypes based on symptoms of diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), constipation-predominant (IBS-C) and IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M) and in each subtype were 42, 62 and 84 patients, respectively. All IBS subjects completed questionnaires containing the disease-specific QOL for IBS (IBSQOL), World Health Organization QOL Assessment-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and IBS severity scores (IBSSS). The non-IBS subjects completed the WHOQOL-BREF only.

RESULTS

Mean scores of IBSQOL in person with subtypes of IBS-D, IBS-C and IBS-M were 74.34 ± 19.01, 76.77 ± 22.91 and 73.15 ± 26.51, respectively which was not significantly different (P value = 0.507). As well as mean scores of WHOQOL-BREF in person with subtypes of IBS-D, IBS-C and IBS-M were 81.01 ± 16.23, 88.32 ± 15.66, and 82.65 ± 16.67, respectively, which were not significantly different (P value = 0.412) but mean scores of WHOQOL-BREF in non-IBS subjects was 89.53 ± 11.71 which was significantly different from IBS subjects (P value = 0.022). Strong positive relationship between two instruments was shown (r = 0.826 when P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The WHOQOL-BREF instrument showed poorer QOL in IBS patients. The QOL was not different significantly among IBS-M, IBS-C, and IBS-D subtypes. We found that WHOQOL-BREF instrument strongly correlate with QOLIBS instrument.

Irritable bowel syndrome: a comparison of subtypes

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is traditionally divided into subtypes depending on the bowel habit abnormality, but there is little clarity in the literature about whether these subtypes differ symptomatically or psychologically. Furthermore, there are conflicting reports on the relationship between symptom severity and psychological status. The aim of this study was to address these issues in a large cohort of patients defined by bowel habit.

METHODS

One thousand IBS patients were divided into diarrhea (IBS-D), constipation (IBS-C), and mixed (IBS-M) bowel habit subtypes and completed a series of validated questionnaires capturing symptom severity, non-colonic symptomatology (somatization), quality of life, and anxiety or depression levels. Comparisons were made using SPSS version 20.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the three subtypes with respect to symptom severity, abdominal pain intensity, non-colonic symptomatology, quality of life, and anxiety or depression scores (all Ps > 0.05). In addition, there was only a small but statistically significant correlation between IBS symptom severity and both anxiety or depression, as well as quality of life (highest r = 0.34), while the relationship between somatization and disease severity was moderate (r = 0.42).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that there are no differences in the symptom profiles and anxiety or depression scores between different subtypes of IBS. In addition, anxiety and depression do not appear to be strongly associated with symptom severity, although this does not exclude the possible interplay between these and other psychological drivers of severity, such as poor coping skills.

Effect of prolonged stress on the adrenal hormones of individuals with irritable bowel syndrome

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of prolonged stress on the salivary adrenal hormones (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], DHEA-sulfate [DHEA-S]) of individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods

The participants were female college students, including 10 with IBS and 16 without IBS (control group), who were scheduled for a 2-week teaching practice at a kindergarten. Participants were asked to collect saliva for determining adrenal hormones immediately and 30 min after awakening and before sleep, 2 weeks before the practice, the first week of the practice, the second week of the practice, and a few days after the practice.

Results

Regarding cortisol/DHEA ratio, significantly increased levels were found during the first week of the practice, and a significant interaction between group and time was found; the ratio at 30 min after awakening in the IBS group was higher than that in the control group. For the other adrenal hormone indexes, no significant differences due to the presence of IBS were found.

Conclusions

Individuals with IBS showed an elevated cortisol/DHEA ratio after awakening compared with individuals without IBS, and the elevated ratio peaked under the prolonged stress. The present study suggests that the cortisol effect is dominant in individuals with IBS under prolonged stress.

Irritable bowel syndrome and symptom severity: evidence of negative attention bias, diminished vigour, and autonomic dysregulation

OBJECTIVE

To determine if cognitive processing, and subjective and physiological responses to stress and relaxation differed between an irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) group and control group. How these variables relate to the severity of IBS symptoms was also determined.

METHODS

Twenty-one IBS participants and 20 controls provided cognitive (attention and processing), subjective (perceived stress and vigour), and physiological (heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance) data during a relaxation and stress phase. Logistic regression analyses determined which variables are related to the IBS group and hierarchical linear regression assessed how the variables are related to the severity of IBS symptoms.

RESULTS

Subjective and cognitive factors (drowsiness at baseline, total vigour, and reduced Stroop colour-naming accuracy for negative words) are significantly related to IBS, χ2 (3, N=41)=23.67, p<.001, accurately categorising 85% of participants. IBS symptom severity was associated with both subjective (drowsiness at baseline and a smaller reduction in tiredness from relaxation to stress) and physiological (smaller increase in systolic blood pressure from baseline to stress phase and lower skin conductance at baseline) variables. This model predicted IBS severity, F (4, 16)=11.20, p<.001, and accounted for 74% of the variability in scores.

CONCLUSIONS

A negative attention bias, which may be related to a negative self-schema, as well as perceived low vigour were important in categorising IBS. Low subjective vigour and reduced physiological reactivity to both relaxation and stress conditions were associated with IBS severity, suggestive of illness-related allostatic load.

A cross-sectional study of irritable bowel syndrome in nurses in China: prevalence and associated psychological and lifestyle factors

The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and associated factors, especially psychological and lifestyle factors, in nurses in China have not been investigated previously. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of IBS in nurses, to evaluate whether factors, such as psychological disorders, are associated with IBS, and to determine whether psychological disorders can influence the severity of symptoms of IBS and quality of life (QOL). A cross-sectional study was conducted for Chinese nurses from November 2012 to February 2013. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires. The prevalence of IBS was 17.4%. The revised symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90-R) scores were significantly higher for nurses with IBS than for those without IBS (P<0.001), and no difference in scores between IBS subtypes was found (F=1.893, P=0.142). The scores of QOL for nurses with and without IBS were 77.18±21.93 and 88.44±11.89 (P<0.001), respectively. Psychological disorders did not show statistically significant correlations with severity of symptoms of IBS or QOL. Alcohol consumption, low level of exercise, and psychological disorders were risk factors for IBS. In summary, nurses in China show a high prevalence of IBS. Psychological disorders and some related lifestyle factors are probably responsible for the development of IBS in nurses.

Probiotic gut effect prevents the chronic psychological stress-induced brain activity abnormality in mice

BACKGROUND

A probiotic formulation (Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 combination, Probio'Stick(®) ) displays anxiolytic-like activity and reduces apoptosis in the lymbic system in animal models of depression. Based on the hypothesis that modulation of gut microbiota by this probiotic formulation has beneficial effects on brain activity in stress conditions, we report a set of probiotic-evoked physiological, cellular, and molecular events in the brain of Probio'Stick(®) pretreated mice submitted to chronic psychological stress.

METHODS

Water avoidance stress (WAS) was applied or not (sham). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses to the chronic stress were assessed through plasma corticosterone and catecholamine measurements. Specific markers for neuronal activity, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity were used to assess brain activity. In addition, gut permeability and tight junction (TJ) proteins levels were also determinated.

KEY RESULTS

We observed that a pretreatment with the probiotic formulation attenuated HPA axis and ANS activities in response to WAS, and reduced cFos expression in different brain areas but Lactobacillus salivarius (a negative control) treatment was ineffective on these parameters. Moreover, probiotic pretreatment prevented the WAS-induced decrease hippocampal neurogenesis and expression changes in hypothalamic genes involved in synaptic plasticity. These central effects were associated with restoration of TJ barrier integrity in stressed mice.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

These data suggest that chronic stress-induced abnormal brain plasticity and reduction in neurogenesis can be prevented by a pretreatment with the Probio'Stick(®) formulation, suggesting that probiotics modulate neuroregulatory factors and various signaling pathways in the central nervous system involved in stress response.

Anxiety in close relationships is higher and self-esteem lower in patients with irritable bowel syndrome compared to patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Previous research has suggested an interaction between personality factors and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We therefore aimed to elucidate differences in psychological and coping functioning between patients with IBD and IBS, and to assess the relationship of disease activity with these functions.

METHODS

Seventy-four patients with IBD (mean age 43±17 years, range 18-82 years) and 81 patients with IBS (mean age 37±12 years, range 21-66 years) completed the questionnaires; Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Toronto Alexithymia, Experiences in Close Relationships, and Sense of Coherence. Disease activity was evaluated either by the Harvey-Bradshaw index, the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index, or the Visual Analogue Scale for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

RESULTS

The study revealed that patients with IBS had higher degree of anxiety in close relationships than patients with IBD (p=0.003), and lower self-esteem (p=0.001). No other statistical differences between the whole groups IBS and IBD or between subgroups were seen.

CONCLUSIONS

The fact that patients with IBS seem to have higher levels of anxiety in relationships and lower self-esteem could influence the way the patient deal with the disease and how the communication with health care professionals works out. A higher awareness of the importance of past negative life events should be taken into consideration. Whether the disease or the personal traits are the primary event should be addressed in future research.

Anxiety and depression in a sample of Iranian patients with irritable bowel syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have shown that up to 50% to 70% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who seek treatment have psychiatric comorbidity. The aim of this study was to report the history of anxiety and depression in IBS patients.

METHODS

The study, designed as a cross-sectional, was performed in a consecutive sample of individuals diagnosed with IBS in the Gastroenterology Clinic of Taleghani Hospital, Tehran province, Iran from October 2010 to October 2011. IBS was diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria. All participants were asked about perceived psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety in the past six months.

RESULTS

153 treatment-seeking IBS patients were entered to the study. The mean age of IBS patients with history of psychiatric symptoms (33.9 years) was relatively lower than those without this history (39.3 years); p< 0.05. There was a significant difference regarding mean age of diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) patients with history of psychiatric symptoms (26.8 years) and without such history (37.9 years); p< 0.05. However, such a difference was not seen among other types of IBS. The most frequent psychiatric symptoms were reported by the constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C) patients followed by mixed-IBS (IBS-M) and the least rate was seen in IBS-D.

CONCLUSION

Approximately half of IBS patients reported anxiety and/or depression. IBS-C patients experienced higher proportions of anxiety and depression.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

None.

Prevalence of depression and anxiety in irritable bowel syndrome: A clinic based study from India

BACKGROUND

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a very common gastrointestinal dysfunction. Despite strong evidence of high prevalence of depression and anxiety in IBS there is very limited research on this in India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cases of IBS and controls with non-ulcerative dyspepsia were recruited from a gastroenterology clinic in Mumbai, India. Presence of anxiety disorder and depression were assessed by using the Hamilton Anxiety rating scale and Hamilton Depression rating scale respectively. Prevalence rates of anxiety and depression were established and Odds Ratio (OR) was calculated to determine the association of depression and anxiety disorders with IBS.

RESULTS

In IBS cases, the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder was 37.1% and 31.4% respectively. In patients with IBS the OR for depression was 6.3 (95% CI 1.6-24.74, P=0.009) and the OR for anxiety disorder was 7.56 (95% CI 1.53-37.29, P=0.01).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder in IBS is very high. Therefore, screening of IBS patients for anxiety and depression would facilitate better interventions and consequently better outcomes.

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: a European-focused systematic literature review of disease burden

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic literature review to assess burden of disease and unmet medical needs in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation (IBS-C), with a focus on five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK).

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and grey literature searches were carried out using terms for IBS and constipation, to identify studies reporting epidemiological, clinical, humanistic, or economic outcomes for IBS-C, published between 2000 and 2010.

RESULTS

Searches identified 885 unique abstracts and 33 supplementary articles, of which 100 publications and six grey literature sources met the inclusion criteria. Among patients with IBS, the prevalence estimates of IBS-C ranged from 1 to 44%. Co-morbid conditions, such as personality traits, psychological distress, and stress, were common. Patients with IBS-C had lower health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) compared with the general population, and clinical trials suggested that effectively treating IBS-C improves HRQoL. The European societal cost of IBS-C is largely unknown, as no IBS-C-specific European cost-of-illness studies were identified. Two cost analyses demonstrated the substantial societal impact of IBS-C, including reduced productivity at work and work absenteeism. Guidelines offered similar recommendations for the diagnosis and management of IBS; however, recommendations specifically for IBS-C varied by country. Current IBS-C treatment options have limited efficacy and the risk:benefit profile of early 5-HT(4) agonists restricts clinical use.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review indicates a clear need for European-focused IBS-C burden-of-disease and cost-of-illness studies to address identified evidence gaps. There is a need for new therapies for IBS-C that are effective, well tolerated, and have a positive impact on HRQoL.

Burden of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom

Background

Several studies have examined the effect of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) on health outcomes in Western Europe, but less research has focused on the constipation subtype (IBS-C). The current study addresses this gap by comparing patients with IBS-C and matched controls for health status, work productivity, and resource utilization.

Methods

Data were obtained from the 2010 5EU National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS), which includes respondents from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Only participants from France (n = 15,051), Italy (n = 7580), and the UK (n = 15,065) were included in the analyses. Respondents who reported a physician diagnosis of IBS and reported only constipation symptoms were compared with respondents who did not report being diagnosed with IBS using a propensity score-matching methodology (matching on sociodemographics, health behaviors, and comorbidities). Differences between patients with IBS-C and matched controls were examined on health status (Short Form Survey Instrument version 2), work productivity (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire), and health care resource use in the past 6 months.

Results

A total of 83 (0.55%), 109 (1.44%), and 204 (1.35%) respondents reported a diagnosis of IBS with only constipation symptoms in France, Italy, and the UK, respectively. Within each country, patients with IBS-C reported significantly worse health status compared with matched controls (all P < 0.05) and significantly more physician visits (all P < 0.05). More hospitalizations were also observed in the UK (P < 0.05). Among those who were employed, patients with IBS-C in France and the UK also reported significantly more presenteeism than matched controls (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

These findings highlight the pervasive influence of IBS-C on the day-to-day functioning of sufferers, their ability to be productive at work, and their influence on the wider health care system. Significant unmet needs remain, and improved management of this condition could result in significant and clinically meaningful gains in health status as well as alleviating a societal cost burden.

Effects of personality traits on the manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome

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.

Autonomic nervous system activity in constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome patients

BACKGROUND

The main mechanism underlying irritable bowel syndrome is currently believed to be a dysfunction of the brain-gut axis. Autonomic nervous system dysfunction can contribute to development of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms by disturbing visceral sensations.

MATERIAL/METHODS

Thirty patients with a diagnosis of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Resting and functional autonomic nervous system tests and percutaneous electrogastrography were performed. Plasma adrenalin, noradrenalin, insulin, ghrelin and cholecystokinin activity was analyzed.

RESULTS

Increased sympathetic activation with disturbed parasympathetic function was demonstrated. Patients had substantially higher plasma catecholamine concentration, which confirms sympathetic overbalance. Hyperinsulinemia may explain sympathetic predominance followed by gastric and intestinal motility deceleration. Abnormal, reduced ghrelin and cholecystokinin titre may disturb brain-gut axis functioning and may be responsible for gastric motility deceleration. In electrogastrography, distinctly lower values of fasting normogastria percentage and dominant power were observed. Patients had substantially lower slow wave coupling percentage both in fasting and postprandial periods, which negatively correlated with plasma catecholamines level. Gastric myoelectrical activity disturbances may result from lack of sympatho-parasympathetic equilibrium.

CONCLUSIONS

Central sympathetic influence within the brain-gut axis is most probably responsible for myoelectrical activity disturbances in irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Evaluation of psychological aspects among subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome

CONTEXT

While some studies have found disparities between subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), others did not found such differences.

AIM

This study aimed to investigate whether there are differences in psychological features between the subtypes of IBS.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was performed on all consecutive outpatients IBS diagnosed (from Oct. 2010 to Oct. 2011) in Taleghani Hospital gastroenterology clinic, Tehran, Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 153 consecutively diagnosed IBS patients (using Rome III criteria); including 80 constipation-predominant (IBS-C), 22 diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), and 51 mixed IBS (IBS-M) were asked to complete the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised (SCL-90-R).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare nominal variables. One-way ANOVA was used to compare continuous variables.

RESULTS

Although IBS-C patients were more suffered from psychiatric disorders, there were no statistical differences between mean score of IBS-C, IBS-D, and IBS-M patients regarding to all of SCL-90-R subscales and three global indices including Global Severity Index (GSI), Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI) and Positive Symptom Total (PST) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our finding showed that there are no different symptomatic profiles between IBS subtypes.

Altered psychobiological responsiveness in women with irritable bowel syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Although stress has been considered an important pathophysiological factor in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), there is incomplete understanding of its physiological mechanisms. The current study was designed to compare diurnal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in IBS patients and controls and their psychobiological response to a psychosocial stressor.

METHODS

Basal and stimulated HPA axis activity was assessed in 57 women with IBS and 20 matched controls. Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed using a standardized clinical interview. Salivary morning cortisol and diurnal profile were obtained, and the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was administered. Levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were measured before and within 1 hour after the stressor. Overall stress experience and stress related to the TSST were assessed using standardized questionnaires.

RESULTS

All subjects showed intact circadian variation of cortisol. However, IBS patients with predominant diarrhea exhibited substantially heightened cortisol levels at awakening (p < .03) and a blunted cortisol awakening response. In response to the TSST, patients exhibited significantly blunted cortisol (p < .05) and slightly attenuated ACTH secretion compared with controls. During the recovery period, ACTH levels were significantly lower (p < .04) in patients than those in healthy subjects. Women with IBS perceived higher stress susceptibility than control subjects did (p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

The enhanced morning cortisol levels in one subgroup of IBS patients may indicate an association between basal HPA axis activity and predominant bowel habit. The downregulated HPA axis reactivity in IBS after the TSST suggests a downregulated sensitivity of the endocrine system. On the contrary, all subjective stress ratings were increased in the IBS group, which may indicate increased stress susceptibility.

Evaluation of health related quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome patients

Background

Quality of life (QOL) is an important measure in the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Controversy exists in the findings of studies evaluating QOL in IBS subtypes, and little is known about this issue in Iranian patients. Determination of the factors affecting QOL in IBS patients may influence treatment outcomes. The aims of this study are to: 1) compare QOL between subtypes in a sample of Iranian IBS patients, 2) determine the factors associated with QOL in IBS.

Methods

This cross sectional study included two hundred and fifty IBS patients with the mean age (± standard deviation) of 31.62 (± 11.93) years that were referred to outpatient gastroenterology clinic. IBS patients were diagnosed based on Rome-3 criteria by a gastroenterologist, and then they were categorized into three subtypes according to the predominant type of bowel habit. The "QOL specific for IBS", "Stait-trait anxiety inventory", and "Beck depression inventory-2" questioners were used to evaluate QOL, anxiety, and depression symptoms, respectively.

Results

The mean QOL scores in IBS mixed subtype (71.7 ± 25.57), constipation predominant subtype (80.28 ± 25.57), and diarrhea predominant subtype (76.43 ± 19.13) were not different. (P value: 0.05) In multivariate linear regression analysis, anxiety symptom scores were inversely correlated with QOL scores. [Standardized beta: -0.43, (95% confidence interval: -0.70, -0.39), P value: < 0.01]

Conclusion

It seems reasonable to manage anxiety symptoms properly in IBS patients since this might increase their QOL.

Gut memories: towards a cognitive neurobiology of irritable bowel syndrome

The brain and the gut are engaged in continual crosstalk along a number of pathways collectively termed the 'brain-gut axis'. Over recent years it has become increasingly clear that dysregulation of the axis at a number of levels can result in disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). With recent advances in neuroimaging technologies, insights into the neurobiology of IBS are beginning to emerge. However the cognitive neurobiology of IBS has remained relatively unexplored to date. In this review we summarise the available data on cognitive function in IBS. Moreover, we specifically address three key pathophysiological factors, namely; stress, immune activation and chronic pain, together with other factors involved in the manifestation of IBS, and explore how each of these components may impact centrally, what neurobiological mechanisms might be involved, and consider the implications for cognitive functioning in IBS. We conclude that each factor addressed could significantly impinge on central nervous system function, supporting the view that future research efforts must be directed towards a detailed assessment of cognitive function in IBS.

Constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome associated to hyperprolactinemia

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is considered to be a physical disorder that mainly affects the bowel and is clinically characterized by lower abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea, constipation (or alternating diarrhea/constipation), gas, bloating, and nausea. According to recent studies, it appears that there is an association with increased prolactin levels in patients suffering from IBS. We report a rare case of regression of IBS symptoms (constipation type) in a 16-year-old female adolescent after receiving cabergoline for treating hyperprolactinemia due to pituitary macroadenoma. Our hypothesis is that increased prolactin levels, for instance due to a pituitary adenoma, may suppress prolactin-releasing peptide release and lead to a reverse feedback interaction, consequently resulting in oversecretion of cholecystokinin, inducing the development of IBS.

Resistance to early-life stress in mice: effects of genetic background and stress duration

Early-life stress can induce marked behavioral and physiological impairments in adulthood including cognitive deficits, depression, anxiety, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. Although robust rat models of early-life stress exist there are few established effective paradigms in the mouse. Genetic background and protocol parameters used are two critical variables in such model development. Thus we investigated the impact of two different early-life stress protocols in two commonly used inbred mouse strains. C57BL/6 and innately anxious BALB/c male mice were maternally deprived 3 h daily, either from postnatal day 1 to 14 (protocol 1) or 6 to 10 (protocol 2). Animals were assessed in adulthood for cognitive performance (spontaneous alternation behavior test), anxiety [open-field, light/dark box (L/DB), and elevated plus maze (EPM) tests], and depression-related behaviors (forced swim test) in addition to stress-sensitive physiological changes. Overall, the results showed that early-life stressed mice from both strains displayed good cognitive ability and no elevations in anxiety. However, paradoxical changes occurred in C57BL/6 mice as the longer protocol (protocol 1) decreased anxiety in the L/DB and increased exploration in the EPM. In BALB/c mice there were also limited effects of maternal separation with both separation protocols inducing reductions in stress-induced defecation and protocol 1 reducing the colon length. These data suggest that, independent of stress duration, mice from both strains were on the whole resilient to the maladaptive effects of early-life stress. Thus maternal separation models of brain–gut axis dysfunction should rely on either different stressor protocols or other strains of mice.

Meta-analysis and meta-regression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in functional somatic disorders

Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the most investigated biological risk marker in functional somatic disorders (FSDs), such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia (FM), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Our aim was to assess whether there is an association between basal hypocortisolism and FSD and to identify potential moderators of this association. Meta-analysis on 85 studies revealed that although basal cortisol levels were generally lower in FSD subjects compared to controls, this association did not reach statistical significance (SMD -0.07, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.04, p=0.241). However, when the three FSD were assessed separately, statistically significant basal hypocortisolism was observed in CFS subjects compared to controls (SMD -0.14, 95% CI -0.28 to 0.00, p=0.047), but not in FM or IBS. When all potential moderators were entered into a meta-regression analysis, only type of FSD and female gender were significant independent predictors of basal hypocortisolism. In conclusion, we did not find evidence to consider all three main FSD as hypocortisolemic disorders, as significant reduction in basal cortisol compared to healthy controls was only found in CFS and in females with FM, but not in IBS.

Depression, anxiety and anger in subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome patients

The present study aimed to elucidate the differences in depression, anxiety, anger, and quality of life in a sample of non-psychiatric IBS patients, starting from the hypothesis that IBS subtypes may have different symptomatic expressions of negative emotions with different outcomes on quality of life measures. Forty-two constipation-predominant IBS (C-IBS) subjects and 44 diarrhea-predominant IBS (D-IBS) subjects, after an examination by a gastroenterologist and a total colonoscopy, underwent a clinical interview and psychometric examination for the assessment of depression, anxiety, anger and quality of life. IBS subtypes showed different symptomatic profiles in depression, anxiety and anger, with C-IBS patients more psychologically distressed than D-IBS subjects. Affective and emotional symptoms should be considered as specific and integral to the syndrome, and recognizing the differences between IBS subtypes may have relevant implications for treatment options and clinical outcome.

HPA axis reactivity in chronic pelvic pain: association with depression

OBJECTIVES

Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a frequent gynecological complaint. The pathophysiology of CPP is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of depressive symptoms is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction in CPP.

METHODS

We measured neuroendocrine responses to a standardized social stress test and to a standard adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)(1-24) stimulation test in 18 patients with CPP, stratified based on the presence of high versus low self-reported depressive symptoms, compared with 24 controls.

RESULTS

Women with CPP and low depression exhibited enhanced ACTH responses to psychosocial stress compared with women with CPP and high depression, whereas there were no differences in cortisol responses. In the ACTH(1-24) stimulation test, CPP patients with high depression demonstrated enhanced cortisol responses.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest a relationship between self-reported depression and reactivity of the HPA axis in patients with CPP.

Irritable bowel syndrome: towards biomarker identification

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder referred to gastroenterologists, affects 7-10% of the general population worldwide. The lack of suitable disease-defining biological markers coupled with a poorly understood underlying pathophysiology complicates patient diagnosis and seriously hampers drug discovery efforts. Over the past few years, a number of potential biomarkers have emerged, and in this review we critically evaluate such candidates. In particular, we highlight the increasing number of studies supporting a low-grade immune activation in IBS and consider how the latest preclinical developments can contribute to the development of more robust and reliable biological markers of this disorder. The successful identification of biomarkers is critical to progressing our understanding of IBS and addressing the unmet therapeutic needs of this debilitating condition.

Do corticotropin releasing factor-1 receptors influence colonic transit and bowel function in women with irritable bowel syndrome?

Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), a mediator of stress response, alters gastrointestinal (GI) functions. Stress-related changes in colonic motility are blocked by selective CRF(1) receptor antagonists. Our aim was to assess whether modulation of central and peripheral CRF(1) receptors affects colonic transit and bowel function in female patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-wk study evaluated the effects of oral pexacerfont (BMS-562086), a selective CRF(1) receptor antagonist, 25 and 100 mg qd, on GI and colonic transit of solids [by validated scintigraphy with primary end point colonic geometric center (GC) at 24 h] and bowel function (by validated daily diaries) in 39 women with D-IBS. The 100-mg dose was comparable to a dose that inhibited colonic motility in stressed rats. Treatment effects were compared by analysis of covariance with baseline colonic transit as covariate. The study had 80% power (alpha = 0.05) to detect clinically meaningful (26%) differences in colonic transit. Thirty-nine of 55 patients fulfilled eligibility criteria (9 screen failures, 5 baseline GC24 outside prespecified range). At baseline, three treatment groups had comparable age, body mass index, and GC 24 h. Significant effects of pexacerfont relative to placebo were not detected on colonic GC24 (P = 0.53), gastric emptying, orocecal transit, ascending colon emptying half-time, and stool frequency, consistency, and ease of passage. No safety issues were identified. We conclude that in women with D-IBS, pexacerfont, 25 or 100 mg qd, does not significantly alter colonic or other regional transit or bowel function. The role of central and peripheral CRF(1) receptors in bowel function in D-IBS requires further study.