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. 2020 Oct;18(4):459-468.
doi: 10.5217/ir.2019.09171. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Psychological profiles of irritable bowel syndrome patients with different phenotypes

Michel Bouchoucha  1   2 , Ghislain Devroede  3 , Noëlle Girault-Lidvan  4 , Maria Hejnar  5 , Florence Mary  2 , Robert Benamouzig  2
Affiliations

Psychological profiles of irritable bowel syndrome patients with different phenotypes

Michel Bouchoucha et al. Intest Res. 2020 Oct.

Abstract

Background/aims: Abnormal psychological profiles are frequently found in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). The present study aimed to evaluate the psychological profiles of FGID patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and IBS phenotypes.

Methods: In 608 FGID patients, including 235 with IBS, have filled a Rome III questionnaire and the French version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2. Data analysis was performed using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: This study shows that IBS patients have abnormal psychological profiles with more significant symptom exaggeration and decreased test defensiveness than non-IBS patients. They have a significantly higher score for all clinical scales. Logistic regression analysis showed in IBS patients a decrease of body mass index (P= 0.002), and test defensiveness score K (P= 0.001) and an increase of Hypochondriasis (P< 0.001) and Masculinity-Femininity scale (P= 0.018). By comparison with non-IBS patients, IBS-constipation, IBS-diarrhea, and mixed IBS patients have increased Hypochondriasis value and Depression score, mixed IBS patients have higher Psychasthenia score and higher Hypomania score. No item was significantly different in the IBS-unspecified group.

Conclusions: This study shows that IBS patients have different psychological profiles than other FGID patients and that psychological characteristics are associated with IBS phenotypes except for patients with unsubtyped IBS.

Keywords: Depression; Irritable bowel syndrome; Life stress events; MMPI-2; Sex.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Graphical representation of the odds ratio and their 95% confidence interval of significant demographics and validity and clinical Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 scales (P<0.01) in irritable bowel syndrome patients compared with patients with other functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Graphical representation of the odds ratio and their 95% confidence interval of clinical and psychological significant items in at least one IBS subgroup (Hs, K, Hy, Mf, BMI) in IBS phenotypes compared with patients with other functional gastrointestinal disorders. IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; IBS-C, constipation-IBS; IBS-D, diarrhea-IBS; IBS-M, mixed IBS; IBS-U, unspecified IBS; Hs, Hypochondriasis; K, test defensiveness; Hy, Hysteria; Mf, Masculinity-Femininity; BMI, body mass index.
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