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Impact of Depression and Anxiety on the Quality of Life of Constipated Patients

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Abstract

Constipation negatively affects quality of life (QOL), however, the specific mechanisms through which this relationship occurs are unclear. The present study examined anxiety and depression as potential mediators of the relationship between constipation severity and QOL in a sample of 142 constipated patients. Results indicated that depression symptom severity mediated the relationship between constipation severity and mental health-related QOL. For patients meeting diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, indirect effects were observed in the relationship between constipation severity and both physical and mental health-related QOL. Anxiety did not contribute to this model. Treating depression may be useful in improving QOL in severely constipated patients, which highlights the importance of psychological screening and treatment referrals in primary care settings.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by the University of California, San Francisco Hellman Family Award for Early Career Faculty.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jenna J. Albiani & Stacey L. Hart

  2. Department of Psychology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Laura Katz

  3. School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Julia Berian

  4. School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Amanda Del Rosario

  5. School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Janet Lee

  6. Section of Colorectal Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Madhulika Varma

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  1. Jenna J. Albiani
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Correspondence to Stacey L. Hart.

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Albiani, J.J., Hart, S.L., Katz, L. et al. Impact of Depression and Anxiety on the Quality of Life of Constipated Patients. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 20, 123–132 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-012-9306-3

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