The impact of irritable bowel syndrome on daily functioning: Characterizing and understanding daily consequences of IBS

Abstract

Background Despite the well-documented economic and psychosocial burden of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), few studies have focused on the impact of IBS on daily activities. The current study aims to quantify impairment in daily activities among IBS patients and to evaluate the relationship between impairment, IBS, quality of life, and psychiatric symptoms. Methods 179 participants meeting ROME-III criteria for IBS completed an online research survey evaluating the following variables: 1) the impact of IBS on daily activities, 2) comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, 3) symptom severity, 4) quality of life, and 5) and symptom-specific cognitive affective factors related to IBS. Key Results This sample reported a high degree of impairment due to IBS, with 76% of the sample reporting some degree of IBS-related impairment in at least 5 different domains of daily life. Rates of impairment were significantly higher for participants who met criteria for anxiety, depression, and/or panic disorder. Conclusions and inferences This study contributes to existing literature by demonstrating a high level of daily impairment among patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, particularly those who meet criteria for anxiety, depression, and panic disorder. These findings support the importance of integrated psychosocial and medical care for IBS patients, and highlight the utility of evaluation and intervention for behavioral avoidance/impairment especially among those who exhibit signs or symptoms of psychiatric diagnoses.

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