EPA-1777 – Personality Factors in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objectives

We investigated whether the personality factors measured in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms differ from healthy participants, taking into account the subgroups of IBS (IBS-diarrhea, IBS-constipation, IBS-mixed and IBS-undetermined).

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 4763 participants was carried out in Isfahan University of medical sciences. They were asked to fill two questionnaires: A validated questionnaire which fulfilled Rome III criteria for IBS considering their sociodemographic and lifestyle data as well, and the NEO-FFI questionnaire. Data was processed and analyzed using SPSS, Student's t-test for quantitative variables and Chi-squared statistic test for qualitative variables. Prevalence of each IBS subgroups was also assessed according to predominant stool pattern.

Results

There were significant differences between IBS and non-IBS group in all dimension except openness(p<0.01). The mean score of neuroticism was significantly lower in non-IBS group but they showed a significantly higher level of extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness. Mean score of all dimensions was reported to be higher in female patients except extraversion (p<0.01).

Conclusions

The results indicate that the personality dimensions in irritable bowel syndrome differ from non-IBS group.