Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Sep 21;35(3):165-170.
doi: 10.5578/turkjsurg.4035. eCollection 2019 Sep.

Relationship between functional constipation and anal-retentive behavior features

Tonguç Utku Yılmaz  1 , Halil İbrahim Taş  2 , Ezgi Uçar  1 , Cem Cerit  3 , Altay Çelebi  4 , Sertaç Ata Güler  1 , Zafer Utkan  1
Affiliations

Relationship between functional constipation and anal-retentive behavior features

Tonguç Utku Yılmaz et al. Turk J Surg. .

Abstract

Objectives: Constipation is the most commonly seen defecation problem related to several environmental factors. Defecation is learned in the childhood anal period in which anal characteristic features appear. Problems in the childhood anal period may affect not only characters but also defecation function. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between constipation and anal characteristic features of participants with functional constipation.

Material and methods: Patients with functional constipation were included into the study according to the ROME III criteria. Patients with irritable bowel disease, slow transit constipation, outlet obstruction constipation, malignancy, and psychiatric diseases were excluded from the study. Patients filled out Personality Belief Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Obsessive Belief Questionnaire. The results were compared with healthy individuals.

Results: A total of 47 patients with functional constipation were included in the study. Avoidant, obsessive-compulsive, antisocial, narcissistic, and paranoid personality traits were found to be higher in patients with constipation than in the control group. Perfectionism/certainty, importance and control, and hospital anxiety scores were found to be higher in patients with constipation than in the control group.

Conclusion: Constipation may be related to several factors, such as socioeconomic environment, emotional stress, age, and diet, among others. Here, it was found that anal-retentive behavior features are prominent in functional constipation. Biofeedback, which can be regarded as psychotherapy of defecation control, can be used for treatment.

Keywords: Anal-retentive; biofeedback; childhood; constipation; personality disorders.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts os interest to declare.

References

    1. Skandalakis JE, Kingsnorth AN. Large intestine and anorectum. Mechanism of defecation. In: Skandalakis JE, Kingsnorth AN, editors. Surgical Anatomy. Paschalidis Medical Publication; 2004. pp. 861–1000.
    1. Bharucha AE, Wald A, Enck P, Rao S. Functional anorectal disorders. Gastroenterology. 2006;130:1510–1518. - PubMed
    1. Akervall S, Nordgren S, Fasth S, Oresland T, Petersson K, Hulten L. The effects of age, gender, and parity on rectoanal functions in adults. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1990;25:1247–1256. - PubMed
    1. Bozkurt MA, Kocataş A, Sürek A, Kankaya B, Kalaycı MU, Alış H. The importance of defecography in the assessment of the etiology of chronic constipation: An analysis of 630 patients. Ulusal Cer Derg. 2014;30:183–185. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Devanarayana NM, Rajindrajith S. Bowel habits and behaviors related to defecation in 10- to 16-year olds: Impact of socioeconomic characteristics and emotional stress. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2011;52:569–573. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources