Post-traumatic stress disorder and other co-morbidities in a sample population of patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Background: High rates of psychiatric co-morbidity have been reported in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been reported in fibromyalgia, a disorder also associated with IBS. The primary aim of this study was to assess the frequency of PTSD in IBS patients. Methods: Sixty-four patients who fulfilled the Rome II diagnostic criteria for IBS were asked to complete questionnaires measuring the prevalence and severity of symptoms of PTSD and psychological distress. Results: Although 86% of IBS patients reported a traumatic life experience, only 7.8% met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. High rates of somatization, obsessive-compulsive behavior, interpersonal sensitivity, and anxiety symptoms were seen among the IBS patients. Conclusions: The results show a lower than expected prevalence of PTSD among IBS patients, which is similar to that of the general population. Thus, we did not find that PTSD is over-represented in a sample population of IBS patients.