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Depression, Anxiety and Anger in Subtypes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric Sciences and Anaesthesiology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Maria Rosaria A. Muscatello, Antonio Bruno, Gianluca Pandolfo, Umberto Micò, Simona Stilo & Rocco Zoccali

  2. Endoscopy Unit, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Mariagrazia Scaffidi, Pierluigi Consolo, Andrea Tortora, Socrate Pallio, Giuseppa Giacobbe & Luigi Familiari

  3. Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Scienze Psichiatriche ed Anestesiologiche, Policlinico Universitario, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125, Messina, Italy

    Rocco Zoccali

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  1. Maria Rosaria A. Muscatello
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  2. Antonio Bruno
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  3. Gianluca Pandolfo
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  10. Giuseppa Giacobbe
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Correspondence to Rocco Zoccali.

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Muscatello, M.R.A., Bruno, A., Pandolfo, G. et al. Depression, Anxiety and Anger in Subtypes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 17, 64–70 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-009-9182-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-009-9182-7

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