Skip to main content
Log in

Impact of irritable bowel syndrome on quality of life

  • Intestinal Disorders, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Immunology, And Microbiology
  • Published:
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the impact of irritable bowel syndrome on quality of life using a well-standardized measure, the SF-36, and to determine whether apparent impairments may be due to neuroticism. Undergraduate students with irritable bowel syndrome who had consulted a physician (41 females, 42 males), students with irritable bowel who had not consulted a physician (91 females, 74 males), and asymptomatic controls (52 females, 70 males) completed questionnaires on quality of life, neuroticism, and psychological distress. Patients showed greater impairment in quality of life than nonconsulters, who in turn showed greater impairment than controls. Neuroticism and psychological distress were correlated with all quality-of-life measures. However, when neuroticism and psychological distress were statistically partialed out, irritable bowel syndrome still had a significant negative impact. The SF-36 may be a useful outcome measure in treatment studies, but investigators will need to correct for confounding influences of neuroticism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Drossman DA, Li Z, Andruzzi E, Temple RD, Talley NJ, Thompson WG, Whitehead WE, Janssens J, Funch-Jensen P, Corazziari E, Righter JE, Koch GE: US householder survey of functional gastrointestinal disorders: Prevalence, sociodemography, and health impact. Dig Dis Sci 38:1569–1580, 1993

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dancey CP, Backhouse S: Towards a better understanding of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. J Adv Nursing 18:1443–1450, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  3. Steward AL, Greenfield S, Hays RD, Wells K, Rogers WH, Berry SD, McGlynn EA, Ware JE Jr: Functional status and well-being of patients with chronic conditions: Results from the medical outcomes study. JAMA 262:907–913, 1989

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ware JE Jr: SF-36 Health Survey: Manual and Interpretation Guide. Boston, The Health Institute, New England Medical Center, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  5. Whitehead WE, Crowell MD, Robinson JC, Heller BR, Schuster MM: Effects of stressful life events on bowel symptoms: Subjects with irritable bowel syndrome compared to subjects without bowel dysfunction. Gut 33:825–830, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Costa PT Jr, McCrae RR: The NEO Personality Inventory Manual. Odessa, Florida, Psychological Assessment Resources, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  7. Costa PT Jr, McCrae RR: Somatic complaints in males as a function of age and neuroticism: A longitudinal analysis. J Behav Med 3:245–257, 1980

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Taub E, Cuevas JL, Cook EW III, Crowell M, Whitehead WE: Irritable bowel syndrome defined by factor analysis: Gender and race comparisons. Dig Dis Sci 40:2647–2655, 1995

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Thompson WG, Creed F, Drossman DA, Heaton KW, Mazzocca G: Functional bowel disease and functional abdominal pain. Gastroenterology Int 5:75–91, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  10. Derogatis LI: The SCL-90-R. Administration, Scoring, and Procedures Manual, 3rd ed. Minneapolis, National Computer Systems, Inc., 1994

    Google Scholar 

  11. Whitehead WE, Bosmajian L, Zonderman AB, Costa PT Jr, Schuster MM: Symptoms of psychologic distress associated with irritable bowel syndrome: comparison of community and medical clinic samples. Gastroenterology 95:709–714, 1988

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Drossman DA, et al: Urgency and fecal soiling in people with bowel dysfunction. Dig Dis Sci 31:1221–1225, 1986

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Talley NJ, Weaver AL, Zinsmeister AR: Impact of functional dyspepsia on quality of life. Dig Dis Sci 40:584–589, 1995

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Barofsky I, Schuster MM, Whitehead WE: Impact of psychological factors on quality of life assessment in the GI patient. Gastroenterology 104:A473, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  15. Drossman DA, McKee DC, Sandler RS, Mitchell CM, Cramer EM, Lowman BC, et al: Psychological factors in the irritable bowel syndrome. A multivariate study of patients and nonpatients with irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology 95:701–708, 1988

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Heaton KW, O'Donnell LJD, Braddon FEM, Mountford RA, Hughes AO, Cripps PJ: Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in a British urban community: Consulters and nonconsulters. Gastroenterology 102:1962–1967, 1992

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Supported by a grant from Glaxo Welcome Inc., and by NIMH Research Scientist Award KO5 MH00133.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Whitehead, W.E., Burnett, C.K., Cook, E.W. et al. Impact of irritable bowel syndrome on quality of life. Digest Dis Sci 41, 2248–2253 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02071408

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02071408

Key words

Navigation