An international study of irritable bowel syndrome: Family relationships and mind-body attributions

Mary Joan Gerson; Charles D. Gerson; Richard A. Awad; Christine Dancey; Pierre Poitras; Piero Porcelli; Ami D. Sperber

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.019

An international study of irritable bowel syndrome: Family relationships and mind-body attributions

Mary Joan Gerson, Charles D. Gerson, Richard A. Awad, Christine Dancey, Pierre Poitras, Piero Porcelli, Ami D. Sperber

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35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal illness, characterized by potentially debilitating symptoms without pathologic findings, often associated with psychological conditions. Little is known about the psychosocial aspects of this condition on an international scale. A total of 239 patients in eight countries were given a series of psychological and medical questionnaires, including IBS activity, relationships with significant others, beliefs regarding the etiology of symptoms, and assessment of quality of life. There were highly significant associations between IBS severity and all other measures. Symptoms were worse if relationship conflict was high and if attributions about illness were physiological rather than psychological. Symptoms were less severe if relationship depth and support were high, and illness was viewed as psychological. Implications for treatment are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2838-2847
Number of pages	10
Journal	Social Science and Medicine
Volume	62
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.019
State	Published - 1 Jun 2006

Keywords

Cross-cultural
Family dynamics
Irritable bowel syndrome
Mind-body

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
History and Philosophy of Science

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10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.019

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title = "An international study of irritable bowel syndrome: Family relationships and mind-body attributions",

abstract = "Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal illness, characterized by potentially debilitating symptoms without pathologic findings, often associated with psychological conditions. Little is known about the psychosocial aspects of this condition on an international scale. A total of 239 patients in eight countries were given a series of psychological and medical questionnaires, including IBS activity, relationships with significant others, beliefs regarding the etiology of symptoms, and assessment of quality of life. There were highly significant associations between IBS severity and all other measures. Symptoms were worse if relationship conflict was high and if attributions about illness were physiological rather than psychological. Symptoms were less severe if relationship depth and support were high, and illness was viewed as psychological. Implications for treatment are discussed.",

keywords = "Cross-cultural, Family dynamics, Irritable bowel syndrome, Mind-body",

author = "Gerson, {Mary Joan} and Gerson, {Charles D.} and Awad, {Richard A.} and Christine Dancey and Pierre Poitras and Piero Porcelli and Sperber, {Ami D.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was supported by the Tai Foundation. We acknowledge help in gathering data from Abhijit Chaudhury, M.D. and Wei-an Wang, M.D. Statistical advice was given by Grainne Fitzsimons, Pamela Smith and Amie Green.",

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AU - Awad, Richard A.

AU - Dancey, Christine

AU - Poitras, Pierre

AU - Porcelli, Piero

AU - Sperber, Ami D.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was supported by the Tai Foundation. We acknowledge help in gathering data from Abhijit Chaudhury, M.D. and Wei-an Wang, M.D. Statistical advice was given by Grainne Fitzsimons, Pamela Smith and Amie Green.

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N2 - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal illness, characterized by potentially debilitating symptoms without pathologic findings, often associated with psychological conditions. Little is known about the psychosocial aspects of this condition on an international scale. A total of 239 patients in eight countries were given a series of psychological and medical questionnaires, including IBS activity, relationships with significant others, beliefs regarding the etiology of symptoms, and assessment of quality of life. There were highly significant associations between IBS severity and all other measures. Symptoms were worse if relationship conflict was high and if attributions about illness were physiological rather than psychological. Symptoms were less severe if relationship depth and support were high, and illness was viewed as psychological. Implications for treatment are discussed.

AB - Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal illness, characterized by potentially debilitating symptoms without pathologic findings, often associated with psychological conditions. Little is known about the psychosocial aspects of this condition on an international scale. A total of 239 patients in eight countries were given a series of psychological and medical questionnaires, including IBS activity, relationships with significant others, beliefs regarding the etiology of symptoms, and assessment of quality of life. There were highly significant associations between IBS severity and all other measures. Symptoms were worse if relationship conflict was high and if attributions about illness were physiological rather than psychological. Symptoms were less severe if relationship depth and support were high, and illness was viewed as psychological. Implications for treatment are discussed.

KW - Cross-cultural

KW - Family dynamics

KW - Irritable bowel syndrome

KW - Mind-body

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VL - 62

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JO - Social Science and Medicine

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IS - 11

ER -

An international study of irritable bowel syndrome: Family relationships and mind-body attributions

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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