Search

INTRODUCTION: Altered microbial diversity has been associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in persons with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Less is known about the relationship of microbiome with extra-intestinal pain and psychological distress symptoms and quality of life (QOL) in persons with IBS. We aimed to evaluate the relationship of fecal microbiota to GI symptoms, stool consistency, psychological distress, extra-intestinal pain, and QOL in participants meeting Rome III criteria for IBS. METHODS: Seventy-six women completed a 28-day diary that included GI, stool consistency, psychological distress, and extra-intestinal pain ratings. Participants completed the IBS-Specific-Quality of Life questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Principal component analysis was performed and the first two components (PC1, PC2) were used to test relationships among bacterial families and clinical measures. RESULTS: Participants were categorized as IBS-constipation (n=22), IBS-diarrhea (n=39), IBS-mixed (n=13), and IBS-unsubtyped (n=2). There was a significant group effect for the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (FB) ratio and PC1. Lower microbial diversity and richness were associated with increased urgency and extra-intestinal pain, worse QOL, and looser stools. Lower extra-intestinal pain was associated with increased Rikenellaceae, Christensenellaceae, Dehalobabacteriaceae, Oscillospiraceae, Mogibacteriaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Sutterellaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae abundances. QOL was positively associated with many of these same bacterial families. Higher FB ratio was positively associated with loose stools. There were no statistically significant relationships between daily psychological distress or abdominal pain and bacterial families. CONCLUSION: Stool microbial diversity and composition are linked to daily extra-intestinal symptoms, stool consistency, and QOL in women with IBS.

Fatigue is the most common extraintestinal symptom in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Genetic polymorphisms of monoamines are associated with fatigue in many chronic diseases. In this pilot exploratory study, the primary aim was to determine whether genetic polymorphisms of tryptophan hydroxylase ( TPH1/TPH2), serotonin reuptake transporter ( SERT), or catechol-O-methyltransferase ( COMT) are associated with fatigue in women with IBS. Additionally, analysis explored whether these genetic associations with fatigue would be present when controlling for abdominal pain, psychological distress, feeling stressed, and sleepiness during the day. Secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trial baseline data sets in Caucasian women with IBS ( N = 185) was conducted. Participants kept a daily diary with one dimension (i.e., severity) for each of the 26 symptoms, including fatigue, for 28 days prior to randomization. DNA samples were tested for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TPH1 (four SNPs) /TPH2 (one SNP), SERT (one SNP), and COMT (one SNP). Analysis of covariance was used to examine associations of percentage of diary days with moderate to very severe symptoms with genetic polymorphisms. Only one SNP, TPH2 rs4570625, was significantly associated with fatigue ( p = .005). T-allele (low functional) carriers of TPH2 (i.e., G/T or T/T genotypes) reported a greater percentage of days with moderate to very severe fatigue than G/G homozygotes ( p = .001). Reduced synthesis of tryptophan in the central nervous system may contribute to reports of fatigue in women with IBS. Understanding genetic risk factors for fatigue may elucidate preemptive strategies to reduce fatigue in individuals with IBS.

Previously we showed that urine trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) levels were higher in females with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) compared to non-IBS females. To assess if TFF3 is associated with symptoms and/or reflect alterations in gastrointestinal permeability and gut microbiota in an IBS population, we correlated stool and urine TFF3 levels with IBS symptoms, intestinal permeability, stool microbial diversity and relative abundance of predominant bacterial families and genera. We also tested the relationship of stool TFF3 to urine TFF3, and compared results based on hormone contraception use. Samples were obtained from 93 females meeting Rome III IBS criteria and completing 4-week symptom diaries. TFF3 levels were measured by ELISA. Permeability was assessed with the urine lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio. Stool microbiota was assessed using 16S rRNA. Stool TFF3, but not urine TFF3, was associated positively with diarrhoea and loose stool consistency. Higher stool TFF3 was also associated with lower L/M ratio and microbial diversity. Of the 20 most abundant bacterial families Mogibacteriaceae and Christensenellaceae were inversely related to stool TFF3, with only Christensenellaceae remaining significant after multiple comparison adjustment. There were no significant relationships between stool or urine TFF3 levels and other symptoms, nor between stool and urine levels. In premenopausal females, urine TFF3 levels were higher in those reporting hormone contraception. Collectively these results suggest that higher stool TFF3 levels are associated with IBS symptoms (loose/diarrhoeal stools), lower gut permeability, and altered stool bacteria composition (decreased diversity and decreased Christensenellaceae), which further suggests that TFF3 may be an important marker of host-bacteria interaction.

Women with irritable bowel syndrome often report fatigue, along with abdominal pain and psychological distress (i.e., depression and anxiety). There is little information about the relationships among these symptoms. Using a secondary data analysis (N = 356), we examined the relationship between abdominal pain and fatigue and whether psychological distress mediates the effect of abdominal pain on fatigue in both across women and within woman with irritable bowel syndrome. Data gathered through a 28-day diary were analyzed with linear regressions. The across-women and within-woman relationships among same-day abdominal pain, fatigue, and psychological distress were examined. Within-woman relationships were also examined for directionality among symptoms (i.e., prior-day abdominal pain predicts next-day fatigue and prior-day fatigue predicts next-day abdominal pain). In across-women and within-woman analyses on the same day, abdominal pain and fatigue were positively correlated. In within-woman analyses, abdominal pain predicted next-day fatigue, but fatigue did not predict next-day pain. In across-women and within-woman analyses, psychological distress partially mediated the effects of abdominal pain on fatigue. Symptom management incorporating strategies to decrease both abdominal pain and psychological distress are likely to reduce fatigue. Nursing interventions, such as self-management skills to reduce abdominal pain and psychological distress, may have the added benefit of reducing fatigue in irritable bowel syndrome.

Alterations in serotonin signaling are suspected in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). By modulating the extracellular reuptake of serotonin, the serotonin transporter (SERT) acts as a key regulator of the bioavailability of serotonin. This study is the first to investigate the impact of rare SERT variants (i.e., those with a minor allele frequency of < 1%) on the risk for IBS, gastrointestinal (GI) symptom level, response to cognitive–behavioral treatment, and psychiatric comorbidity. We sequenced a 0.19 megabase chromosomal stretch containing the SERT gene and surrounding regions in a community sample of 304 IBS patients and 83 controls. We found no significant associations between rare variants in and around the SERT gene and IBS risk, GI symptom profile, or response to treatment. We found preliminary evidence, however, that IBS subjects with a history of either depression or anxiety were significantly more likely to carry multiple rare likely functional variant alleles than IBS patients without psychiatric comorbidity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS To determine if potential biomarkers can be used to identify subgroups of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who will benefit the most or the least from a comprehensive self-management (CSM) intervention. METHODS In a two-armed randomized controlled trial a CSM (n = 46) was compared to a usual care (n = 46) group with follow-up at 3 and 6 months post randomization. Biomarkers obtained at baseline included heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, interleukin-10 produced by unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and lactulose/mannitol ratio. Linear mixed models were used to test whether these biomarkers predicted improvements in the primary outcomes including daily abdominal pain, Gastrointestinal Symptom score and IBS-specific quality of life. RESULTS The nurse-delivered 8-session CSM intervention is more effective than usual care in reducing abdominal pain, reducing Gastrointestinal Symptom score, and enhancing quality of life. Participants with lower nighttime high frequency heart rate variability (vagal modulation) and increased low frequency/high frequency ratio (sympathovagal balance) had less benefit from CSM on abdominal pain. Salivary cortisol, IL-10, and lactulose/mannitol ratio were not statistically significant in predicting CSM benefit. Baseline symptom severity interacts with treatment, namely the benefit of CSM is greater in those with higher baseline symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Cognitively-focused therapies may be less effective in reducing abdominal pain in IBS patients with higher sympathetic tone. Whether this a centrally-mediated patient characteristic or related to heightened arousal remains to be determined.

A large amount of interindividual variability exists in symptom experiences of persons with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Thus, consideration of multiple symptoms to identify distinct symptom subgroups may be useful in directing personalized health strategies for symptom management. We aimed to identify latent classes (i.e., subgroups) of persons with IBS who share similar patterns of symptoms using symptom-related variables (six groups of daily diary symptoms, cognitive beliefs about IBS, and IBS quality of life [QOL]); and to examine how subgroups differed in patient characteristics. Data were derived from a baseline assessment of men and women enrolled in two cognitively-focused intervention trials (N = 332). Using latent class analysis, four latent classes were identified: Class 1 (low symptoms and good QOL, n = 153), Class 2 (low symptoms and moderate QOL, n = 106), Class 3 (high symptoms with diarrhea and poor QOL, n = 38), and Class 4 (high symptoms with low diarrhea and moderate QOL, n = 35). Diarrhea, being female, less formal education, unemployment, and previous history of major depressive disorder were associated with membership in Class 3. Using these distinct symptom profiles, the next step is to explore underlying mechanisms accounting for symptom burden with the goal of designing tailored interventions to reduce that burden.

PURPOSE: There is little information on racial/ethnic characteristics of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. In this study we determined whether the severity of symptoms (gastrointestinal, psychological distress), cognitive beliefs about irritable bowel syndrome and life impacts (life interference, health related-quality of life) differ women with irritable bowel syndrome between Asian-Americans and White-Americans; and the relationships among these variables. METHODS: As a secondary data analysis, Asian-American women (N = 21) and age- and design-matched White-American women (N = 63) with irritable bowel syndrome were included. Data were collected from questionnaires and a 28-days daily diary (e.g., abdominal pain, depression). RESULTS: The percent days with moderate/severe abdominal pain and psychological distress were significantly higher; and constipation- and diarrhea-dominant bowel pattern subtypes were prevalent in White-Americans as compared to Asian-Americans. Positive relationships of gastrointestinal symptoms with psychological distress, and of gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms with negative cognitive beliefs and negative life impacts, were observed in White-Americans. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies to evaluate contributing (e.g., cultural-environmental, pathophysiological, diet) factors of symptom characteristics in Asian-Americans are suggested. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Our study provides useful information for health care providers to understand symptoms and cultural factors, and the potential for culturally-tailored symptom management for this patient group.

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients experience multiple symptoms including dyspnea, anxiety, depression, and fatigue, which are highly correlated with each other. Together, those symptoms may contribute to impaired physical performance. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine interrelationships among dyspnea, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and fatigue as contributing factors to physical performance in COPD. Methods This study used baseline data of 282 COPD patients from a longitudinal observational study to explore the relationship between depression, inflammation, and functional status. Data analyses included confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling. Results Dyspnea, anxiety and depression had direct effects on fatigue, and both dyspnea and anxiety had direct effects on physical performance. Higher levels of dyspnea were significantly associated with impaired physical performance whereas higher levels of anxiety were significantly associated with enhanced physical performance. Conclusion Dyspnea was the strongest predictor of impaired physical performance in patients with COPD.

Background: Our nurse-delivered comprehensive self-management (CSM) program, a cognitive behavioral therapy intervention, is effective in reducing gastrointestinal and psychological distress symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Findings from non-IBS studies indicate that the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism may moderate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy. It is unknown whether this COMT polymorphism is associated with symptom improvements in patients with IBS. Objective: We tested whether this COMT Val158Met polymorphism influences the efficacy of our 2-month CSM intervention. Methods: We analyzed data from two published randomized controlled trials of CSM. The combined European American sample included 149 women and 23 men with IBS (CSM, n = 111; usual care [UC], n = 61). The primary outcomes were daily reports of abdominal pain, depression, anxiety, and feeling stressed measured 3 and 6 months after randomization. Secondary outcomes were additional daily symptoms, retrospective psychological distress, IBS quality of life, and cognitive beliefs about IBS. The interaction between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and treatment group (CSM vs. UC) in a generalized estimating equation model tested the main objective. Results: At 3 months, participants with at least one Val allele benefited more from CSM than did those with the Met/Met genotype (p = .01 for anxiety and feeling stressed, and p < .16 for abdominal pain and depression). The moderating effect of genotype was weaker at 6 months. Discussion: Persons with at least one Val allele may benefit more from CSM than those homozygous for the Met allele. Future studies with larger and more racially diverse samples are needed to confirm these findings. RCT Registration: Parent studies were registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00167635 and NCT00907790).

Background The well-being of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) is affected by psychological effects associated with cancer treatment. However, little is known about the impact of these psychological factors in Brazilian patients with CRC. Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether perceived stress, social support, and resilience are associated with quality of life in urban Brazilian patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for CRC. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 144 Brazilian CRC patients in an ambulatory oncology clinic. The participants completed 5 questionnaires: Demographics, Perceived Stress Scale 14, Social Support Satisfaction Scale, Resilience Scale, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires (C30 and CR29). Confirmatory factor analysis modeling and Cronbach's α were used to examine construct validity and internal consistency. We used the MPlus 3.0 to construct and validate the structural model. Results There was a moderate and positive effect of resilience on the physical, social, and emotional aspects of quality of life. Social support had a strong and positive direct effect on quality of life (ie, social, physical, social, and emotional). Social support had a negative effect on stress perception. Resilience was also negatively related to stress perception. Conclusions Family support and professional social support are important factors for Brazilian CRC patients. Resilience is an important ally for patients. It is important for nurses to consider this when developing educational and psychological interventional strategies to reduce stress and ultimately improve quality of life in this population. Implication for practice Psychological factors that improve quality of life should be evaluated in patients undergoing treatment for cancer.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often report sleep disturbances. Previously, we have shown that self-reported sleep difficulties predicted exacerbations of next-day IBS symptoms, mood disturbance, and fatigue. The purpose of this study was to explore whether objectively measured sleep using actigraphy, as well as self-report, predicts next-day symptoms in women with IBS and to explore whether or not symptoms also predict self-report and objective sleep.Women aged 18-45 years with IBS were community-recruited (n = 24, mean age = 32 ± 8 years). Participants completed sleep and IBS symptom diaries for one menstrual cycle and wore Actiwatch-64 actigraphs for 7 days at home. Statistical analyses used generalized estimating equation (GEE) models.Poorer self-reported sleep quality significantly (p0.05) predicted higher next-day abdominal pain, anxiety, and fatigue, but was not significant for gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms or depressed mood. Actigraphic sleep efficiency (SEF) significantly predicted worsening next-day anxiety and fatigue, but not abdominal pain, GI symptoms, or depressed mood. On temporally reversed analyses, none of the symptoms significantly predicted subsequent sleep, except that GI symptoms significantly predicted higher actigraphic sleep efficiency.This small exploratory study supports previous findings that self-reported sleep disturbance predicted exacerbation of next-day symptoms in women with IBS and extends this relationship using an objective sleep measure. The study adds further evidence that sleep quality predicts subsequent IBS symptoms, but not the converse. The findings from this small study support the importance of additional longitudinal research to further understand the relationships between sleep and IBS.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often report higher levels of psychological distress, specifically anxiety, and depression than non-IBS patients. The management of gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological distress is demonstrably amenable to cognitive-behavioral therapies in a significant number of patients with IBS. The present secondary analysis evaluates the impact of nurse-delivered self-management interventions on anxiety, depression, and urine catecholamine levels in adult IBS patients. Participants in the study were randomized to 2 intervention groups of either comprehensive self-management (CSM) intervention or usual care control. Daily diary ratings of gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, and depression were recorded every evening for 28 days during the baseline period and subsequently at 3, 6, and 12 months postrandomization. Catecholamine levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured from 4 weekly 1st morning urine samples at baseline as well as at each follow-up time. The CSM group reported significantly lower levels of anxiety and depression at follow-up than the usual care group (p = .018 and .021, respectively). In contrast, urine catecholamine levels displayed no appreciable change. Thus, although nurse-delivered CSM interventions showed no impact on urinary catecholamine levels, daily psychological distress was measurably reduced.

Heavy alcohol intake may exacerbate gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the role of alcohol in IBS is unclear. We investigated prospective associations between daily patterns of alcohol intake and next day's GI symptoms using daily diaries.In an observational study of women aged 18-48 years with IBS and healthy controls, participants recorded daily GI symptoms, alcohol intake, caffeine intake, and cigarette smoking for ≈ 1 month. GI symptoms included abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, intestinal gas, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, stomach pain, heartburn, and indigestion. Binge drinking was defined as 4+ alcohol-containing drinks/day.Patterns of alcohol intake did not differ between IBS patients and controls. Although patterns of drinking were associated with GI symptoms among women with IBS, this was not the case with the healthy controls. The strongest associations for IBS patients were between binge drinking and the next day's GI symptoms (e.g., diarrhea, P=0.006; nausea, P=0.01; stomach pain, P=0.009; and indigestion, P=0.004), whereas moderate and light drinking either were not associated or weakly associated with GI symptoms. Associations between alcohol intake and GI symptoms were stronger for women with IBS-diarrhea than for IBS-constipation or IBS-mixed. Effects of binge drinking on GI symptoms were strongest when comparing between individuals (rather than within individuals).Our findings indicate that IBS symptoms differ according to the pattern of alcohol intake among IBS patients, suggesting that the pattern of drinking may in part explain the inconsistent findings between alcohol and IBS symptoms.

Fatigue is commonly reported by patients with noncancer gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as organic and functional GI disorders. This critical review was conducted to evaluate fatigue measures that have been used in these patients. A systematic search using six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Cochrane Review) was conducted from January 2000 to June 2014, and evaluations and reviews of fatigue instruments were performed by two independent reviewers (author and medical librarian). Fourteen instruments from 25 studies were identified. Ten instruments were solely focused on fatigue and four were multisymptom instruments. The average quality score of the 14 instruments was 10.7 (range, 6-14) out of 14. There were five instruments with high overall scores based on usability/feasibility, clinical/research utility, and psychometric properties (3 fatigue-specific and 2 multisymptom). There are valid and reliable measures that are currently available to assess fatigue in noncancer GI patients. Utilization of these common measures may assist clinicians (GI healthcare providers) and researchers to better understand the impact of fatigue in these patients. The instruments with low-quality scores cannot be chosen for routine use without further validation.

Background Sleep disturbances are well-documented among persons with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Difficulty in falling asleep, shorter sleep time, frequent arousal and awakenings, or non-restorative sleep are the most common manifestations. Sleep disturbances are also related to a higher risk of having IBS. Some researchers have provided evidence of a positive association between poorer subjective sleep quality and increased severity and frequency in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in those with IBS. However, findings from studies using objective sleep and activity measures, such as polysomnography and actigraphy, are inconclusive. Purpose This systematic review of the literature between 1990 and 2015 evaluates the evidence of sleep disturbances in adults with IBS and their relationship with GI symptoms.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain associated with alterations in bowel function. Given the heterogeneity of the symptoms, multiple pathophysiologic factors are suspected to play a role. We classified women with IBS into four subgroups based on distinct symptom profiles. In-depth shotgun proteomic analysis was carried out to profile the urinary proteomes to identify possible proteins associated with these subgroups. First void urine samples with urine creatinine level ≥ 100 mg/dL were used after excluding samples that tested positive for blood. Urine from ten subjects representing each symptom subgroup was pooled for proteomic analysis. The urine proteome was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using a data-independent method known as Precursor Acquisition Independent From Ion Count (PAcIFIC) that allowed extended detectable dynamic range. Differences in protein quantities were determined by peptide spectral counting followed by validation of select proteins with ELISA or a targeted single reaction monitoring (LC-SRM/MS) approach. Four IBS symptom subgroups were selected: 1) Constipation, 2) Diarrhea + Low Pain, 3) Diarrhea + High Pain, and 4) High Pain + High Pychological Distress. A fifth group consisted of Healthy Control subjects. From comparisons of quantitative spectral counting data among the symptom subgroups and controls, a total of 18 proteins that showed quantitative differences in relative abundance and possible physiological relevance to IBS were selected for further investigation. Three of the 18 proteins were chosen for validation by either ELISA or SRM. An elevated expression of gelsolin (GSN) was associated with the high pain groups. Trefoil Factor 3 (TFF3) levels were higher in IBS groups compared to controls. In this study the IBS patients subclassified by predominant symptoms showed differences in urine proteome levels. Proteins showing distinctive changes are involved in homeostasis of intestinal function and inflammatory response. These findings warrant future studies with larger, independent cohorts to enable more extensive assessment and validation of urinary protein markers as a diagnostic tool in adult with IBS.

Recently, biobehavioral nursing scientists have focused their attention on the search for biomarkers or biological signatures to identify patients at risk for various health problems and poor disease outcomes. In response to the national impetus for biomarker discovery, the measurement of biological fluids and tissues has become increasingly sophisticated. Urine proteomics, in particular, may hold great promise for biobehavioral focused nursing scientists for examination of symptom-and syndrome-related research questions. Urine proteins are easily accessible secreted proteins that provide direct and indirect windows into bodily functions. Advances in proteomics and biomarker discovery provide new opportunities to conduct research studies with banked and fresh urine to benefit diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of outcomes in various disease populations. This article provides a review of proteomics and a rationale for utilizing urine proteomics in biobehavioral research. It addresses as well some of the challenges involved in data collection and sample preparation.

In the United States, more women than men seek health-care services for symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A number of explanations are given for this gender difference including the higher rates of somatic non-gastrointestinal symptoms and increased psychological distress reported by women with IBS. However, these gender differences are found in studies that rely on retrospective recall with little attention to age or reproductive status. The purpose of the current analysis was to prospectively compare the frequency (days/month of moderate to severe based on a daily diary) of somatic, gastrointestinal (GI), and psychological distress symptoms, in menstruating women (N = 89) and postmenopausal women (N = 66) to men (N = 32) with IBS. In addition, the correlation between daily symptoms and daily report of overall health was evaluated. Postmenopausal women reported significantly more GI pain/discomfort symptoms, especially bloating and abdominal distension, than men, however these differences are greatly attenuated when age is controlled for. Both postmenopausal and menstruating women reported significantly more somatic symptoms (especially joint pain and muscle pain) than men with IBS. The effect was stronger in postmenopausal women, whose somatic symptoms were also higher than menstruating women (P = 0.014). Fatigue and stress were higher in women than men but anxiety and depression were not. All three types of symptoms were strongly correlated with self-rating of health, both across and within-person. Gender-related differences in GI and somatic symptoms are apparent in persons with IBS, more strongly in postmenopausal women. The presence of somatic symptoms in postmenopausal women with IBS may challenge clinicians to find suitable therapeutic options.

In industrialized parts of the world, women seek health care services for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) more frequently than men. The role of gender in IBS is likely multifactorial involving inherent physiological differences in gonadal hormones, stress reactivity, and inflammatory responses, as well as sociocultural differences in response to pain and/or bowel pattern changes. This mini-review in particular addresses gender differences in visceral sensitivity, motility, and autonomic nervous system balance as potential factors contributing to gender differences in IBS presentation.

This study compared heart-rate variability (HRV) indices of autonomic nervous system function during two nights of sleep between women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, n = 35) and healthy controls (n = 38), and among subgroups within the IBS sample based on predominant stool patterns. HRV measures were estimated in conjunction with polysomnographic sleep scoring to define sleep stage-specific autonomic indices. Overall, there were no differences in indicators of HRV between women with IBS and controls. However, within the IBS group, women with diarrhea-predominant IBS demonstrated significantly increased parasympathetic modulation and lower sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system balance across sequential NREM periods and REM cycles compared to both constipation-predominant and alternating IBS subjects. These results suggest that differences in mean level of HRV between predominant bowel groups in IBS patients are large, and that this effect is consistent in the different sleep stages and at different times of night.

This study investigates the association of psychological symptoms with the distribution of two serotonin transporter gene (SERT) polymorphisms, located in the promoter region (5-HTTLPR) and in intron 2 (STin2 VNTR), in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Participants, 21 men and 117 women, were assessed for mental health history and current psychological distress. A blood sample was used for genotyping. Participants who were homozygous for the short allele of 5-HTTLPR or carried a STin2.9 VNTR allele were significantly more likely to have a history of depression. Participants did not differ by genotype in their history of anxiety or suicidal ideation nor in their current levels of depression, anxiety, or general psychological distress. The results support a biopsychosocial model of IBS in which SERT genotype modifies the risk for depressive episodes. Long term, practitioners may individualize treatment of patients with IBS using genotype as one of the factors.

This study examined heart rate variability (HRV) in women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to determine its association with gut pain and predominant bowel pattern. Women with IBS (constipation predominant n = 45, diarrhoea predominant n = 64, alternating n = 56) and healthy controls (n = 50) were recruited from the community. Severity of gut pain was measured retrospectively. The HRV (24 h) was summarized as high-frequency (HF) power and the ratio of low-frequency (LF) power to HF power. Among those women with IBS who have severe gut pain, the 15 constipation-predominant women had lower (P = 0.01) HF power and higher (P = 0.003) LF/HF ratio (geometric means 70 and 7.5, respectively) than the 21 women with diarrhoea-predominant IBS (286 and 3.1) and controls (224 and 3.9). In contrast, among women without severe pain, there is a smaller and not quite significant difference in the opposite direction. Using a broader definition of pain severity based on several questions nearly doubles the number of subjects in the severe pain group and shows even more significant results. The relationship of predominant bowel pattern to HRV is qualitatively different in the subgroup of patients with more severe pain than in the subgroup with less severe pain.

Background & Aims We developed a comprehensive self-management (CSM) program that combines cognitive behavioral therapy with relaxation and dietary strategies; 9 sessions (1 hour each) over 13 weeks were shown to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms and increase quality of life in a randomized trial of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), compared with usual care. The aims of this study were to describe strategies patients with IBS selected and continued to use, 12 months after the CSM program began. Methods We performed a cohort study to continue to follow 81 adults with IBS (87% female; mean age, 45 ± 15 years old) who received the CSM program in the previous clinical trial. During the last CSM session, participants selected strategies they intended to continue using to manage their IBS. CSM strategies were categorized into subthemes of diet (composition, trigger foods, meal size or timing, and eating behaviors), relaxation (specific relaxation strategies and lifestyle behaviors), and alternative thoughts (identifying thought distortions, challenging underlying beliefs, and other strategies). Twelve months later, participants were asked how often they used each strategy (not at all or rarely, occasionally, often, very often, or almost always). Results At the last CSM session, 95% of the patients selected the subthemes of specific relaxation strategies, 90% selected diet composition, and 90% identified thought distortions for continued use. At 12 months, 94% of the participants (76 of 81) were still using at least 6 strategies, and adherence was greater than 79% for all subthemes. Conclusions We developed a CSM program to reduce symptoms and increase quality of life in patients with IBS that produced sustainable behavioral changes in almost all patients (94%) after 1 year of follow-up.

Poor sleep and stress are more frequently reported by women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) than by healthy control (HC) women. The pathophysiology linking poor sleep and stress to gastrointestinal symptoms remains poorly understood. We used a metabolomic approach to determine whether tryptophan (TRP) metabolites differ between women with and without IBS and whether the levels are associated with sleep indices and serum cortisol levels. This study sample included 38 women with IBS and 21 HCs. The women were studied in a sleep laboratory for three consecutive nights. On the third night of the study, a social stressor was introduced, then blood samples were drawn every 20 min and sleep indices were measured. Metabolites were determined by targeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in a sample collected 1 hr after the onset of sleep. The ratios of each metabolite to TRP were used for analyses. Correlations were controlled for age and oral contraceptive use. Melatonin/TRP levels were lower ( p = .005) in the IBS-diarrhea group versus the IBS-constipation and HC groups, and kynurenine/TRP ratios tended to be lower ( p = .067) in the total IBS and IBS-diarrhea groups compared to HCs. Associations within the HC group included melatonin/TRP with polysomnography-sleep efficiency ( r = .61, p = .006) and weaker positive correlations with the other ratios for either sleep efficiency or percentage time in rapid eye movement sleep ( r > .40, p = .025–.091). This study suggests that reductions in early nighttime melatonin/TRP levels may be related to altered sleep quality in IBS, particularly those with diarrhea.

Women with irritable bowel syndrome often report premenstrual distress syndrome and dysmenorrhea. A descriptive, four-group comparison design was used to compare the symptoms and psychological distress levels of women with irritable bowel syndrome (age 18-45 years) with and without dysmenorrhea and premenstrual distress syndrome. Data from three studies on women with irritable bowel syndrome (n = 226) collected between 1995 and 2004 were combined. Of these, 38 had self-reported irritable bowel syndrome with dysmenorrhea and premenstrual distress syndrome, 59 had irritable bowel syndrome with premenstrual distress syndrome, 15 had irritable bowel syndrome and dysmenorrhea, and the remaining 114 had irritable bowel syndrome only. Participants completed the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised and a symptom diary. Pain symptoms and computed scales of anxiety, depression, anger, and cognitive difficulties were compared during the luteal phase, menses phase, and for the change from luteal to menses phases. Premenstrual distress syndrome and dysmenorrhea had a strong impact on uterine cramping at menses, and a weaker effect on other pain symptoms at both luteal and menses phases. Premenstrual distress syndrome was associated with higher depression, anger, and cognitive problems at both luteal and menses phases; however, it was not associated with a greater increase from luteal to menses phases for any symptoms other than uterine cramping. The multiple symptoms reported by women with both irritable bowel syndrome and premenstrual distress syndrome suggest that this group may be particularly challenging to treat and may require a multicomponent (e.g., education, diet, relaxation, cognitive restructuring) approach.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) report lower health-related quality of life (QoL) as compared to healthy controls. The aims of this analysis were to describe which IBS symptoms were rated on a daily diary as most distressing/severe by IBS women, and determine which IBS symptoms were most predictive of lower QoL and have the greatest impact on daily life.This report is a secondary analysis of prospective and retrospective symptom severity and impact data, collected on 242 women with IBS, aged 18-48, who were studied between 1997 and 2004.On the daily diary, intestinal gas was the most frequent IBS symptom with subjects reporting at least minimal intestinal gas on 74% of days and moderate or worse severity on 27% of days. Abdominal pain occurred at least minimally on 62% of days. Diarrhea was the least common. Across women, abdominal pain was most strongly related to life impact variables and QoL, followed by intestinal gas and bloating. Analysis of day-to-day variation within women showed that abdominal pain was most strongly correlated with daily life impact variables and constipation had the weakest correlation. While diarrhea had a lower correlation with life impact, this was due to the low prevalence of diarrhea. When it occurs, diarrhea has a large impact. Partial correlation analysis showed that the impact of diarrhea is independent of abdominal pain.Abdominal pain is the most disruptive IBS symptom. Diarrhea also has an independent and significant impact when it occurs, especially in those with diarrhea-predominant IBS.

In this descriptive longitudinal pilot study, symptoms reported weekly by 18 alcohol-dependent women (AG), during their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th months of recovery, were compared with the symptoms from a comparison group (CG) of 15 healthy non-alcoholic women. The women provided weekly records of physical and psychological symptoms, craving, and use of alcohol, nicotine, psychoactive drugs, and prescription medications. During the study, two alcoholism subgroups emerged. The AG-Abstain remained abstinent while the AG-Relapse used substances intermittently. Symptom scores were compared across groups with t-test and ANOVA. An intercept, slope, and R2 were calculated to determine the pattern of each woman's scores over time. Symptom scores diminished over time, but remained higher for the AG than the CG through the 12th study week. Significant differences in R2 values demonstrated that the symptom scores fit a negative sloping regression line better in the AG-Abstain than the AG-Relapse subgroups. Emotional irritab...

This report examines the relationships between bloating and other symptoms in young women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), using both retrospective and daily diary measures of symptoms. Of the 195 IBS women, 147 (75%) reported retrospectively that they often feel bloated and distended. Across-women analyses of both retrospective and daily diary data show that bloating is most strongly associated with constipation, abdominal pain, and intestinal gas. Within-woman analyses of daily symptoms also show a strong association of bloating with abdominal pain and intestinal gas (i.e., abdominal pain and intestinal gas are higher on days when bloating is higher) but only a weak association with constipation. Bloating is strongly associated with uterine cramping and breast tenderness, but only when perimenses days are included in the analysis. In conclusion, bloating is a very common symptom in women with IBS that is most strongly related to abdominal pain and intestinal gas but may be confounded with menses-associated symptoms.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the patterns of GI, somatic, and psychological symptoms across the menstrual cycle in women with irritable bowel syndrome, and to determine whether symptoms differed by oral contraceptive use or predominant bowel pattern. Methods A daily diary was used to assess symptoms across one menstrual cycle. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance, controlling for age and body mass index, was used to compare patterns of symptoms across the menstrual cycle by oral contraceptive use and predominant bowel pattern (diarrhea, constipation, alternating). Data from control women are presented for comparison. Results For somatic and psychological as well as GI symptoms, women with irritable bowel syndrome had higher symptom severity than did controls. Women with irritable bowel syndrome using oral contraceptives had lower cognitive, anxiety, and depression symptoms (p < 0.05, but not significant after multiple comparison adjustment), but no differences were seen for most symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. All symptoms except diarrhea were highest in the alternating group and lowest in the diarrhea group, with the constipation group either intermediate or close to the alternating group. This pattern was significant after multiple comparisons adjustment for GI symptoms, and trending toward significance (p < 0.05, but not significant after multiple comparison adjustment) for menstrual, sleep, and cognitive symptoms. The strongest menstrual cycle effect was seen in somatic and menstrual symptoms. The pattern of symptoms over the menstrual cycle did not differ by predominant bowel pattern or by oral contraceptive use. Conclusions Many of the symptoms examined differed by predominant bowel pattern and menstrual cycle phase, not just the GI symptoms. The menstrual cycle variation was similar regardless of oral contraceptive use or predominant bowel pattern.

This study compared women with irritable bowel syndrome who had a history of an anxiety or depressive disorder to those without symptoms of either disorder on indicators of cardiac parasympathetic activity, autonomic nervous system balance, and general autonomic activity. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to determine anxiety or depressive disorders, and a Holter monitor was used to record R-R intervals over 24 hr. A similar comparison was done with healthy controls. Among women with irritable bowel syndrome, those with a positive history had lower parasympathetic and general activity throughout the 24-hr period than did women without a diagnosis. Indicators of autonomic balance were slightly higher in women with a positive history compared to those without a history. Similar differences were seen in controls. Thus, a history of anxiety and depressive disorders is associated with lower parasympathetic activity, both in women with IBS and healthy controls. Further exploration is needed to understand if lower parasympathetic activity influences the pain and stool pattern changes seen in persons with irritable bowel syndrome.

The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to compare percentages of natural killer (NK) cells and activated NK and T cells, and both cytotoxic and in vitro cytokine production activity in women with and without symptomatic irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A secondary purpose was to examine the relationships of psychological distress and low sense of coherence with immune function indicators and stress hormones. NK cell percentage and activity have been shown to vary in response to many psychological and physiological stressors. The authors compared 2 groups of women: symptomatic IBS (n = 12) and control (n = 12). Between-subject variability for all immune measures was large. The percentage of activated NK and T cells was significantly lower in the IBS group compared to control (Mann-Whitney U = 30, P = 0.05). Relationships were significant between activated NK and T cell percentage and depression, anxiety, and overall distress (r = –0.54, –0.49, and –0.47, respectively, P < 0.03) and between interferon-gamma production and anxiety (r = –0.45, P < 0.03). There was a trend toward a positive relationship between sense of coherence and NK cytotoxicity (r = 0.39, P = 0.11). These findings are important because they suggest that nursing interventions targeting ongoing physical and psychological distress might also be helpful in improving immune function.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder that affects approximately 8% to 20% of the populations of industrialized countries. In most countries the majority of patients seeking health care services for IBS are women. During the past 10 years there has been a remarkable growth in both basic and clinical research on IBS. At the same time, new drugs are currently under investigation for their efficacy in the management of IBS. This review is intended to cover the current research related to the etiology and pathophysiology of IBS, as well as the diagnosis and management of this condition. Because nurses are frequently at the forefront of assessing and managing patients with this condition, nursing care issues are addressed.

Evidence suggests that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more vigilant to pain-associated stimuli. The aims of this study were to compare women with IBS ( n = 20) to healthy control (HC, n = 20) women on pain sensitivity, conditioned pain modulation (CPM) efficiency, and salivary cortisol levels before and after the CPM test and to examine the relationship of CPM efficiency with gastrointestinal pain, somatic pain, psychological distress symptoms, and salivary cortisol levels in each group. Women, aged 20–42 years, gave consent, completed questionnaires, and kept a symptom diary for 2 weeks. CPM efficiency was tested with a heat test stimulus and cold water condition stimulus in a laboratory between 8 and 10 a.m. on a follicular phase day. Salivary cortisol samples were collected just before and after the experimental testing. Compared to the HC group, women with IBS reported more days with gastrointestinal and somatic pain/discomfort, psychological distress, fatigue, and feeling stressed. During the CPM baseline testing, women with IBS reported greater pain sensitivity compared to the HC group. There was no significant group difference in salivary cortisol levels nor in CPM efficiency, though a post-hoc analysis showed a higher prevalence of impaired CPM efficiency among IBS subjects with more severe lower-GI symptoms. In the IBS group, reduced CPM efficiency was associated with daily abdominal pain/discomfort and psychological distress. Overall, women with IBS exhibited an increased sensitivity to thermal stimuli. Impaired CPM was present in a subset of women with IBS.

Alterations in gastrointestinal (GI) permeability and immune measures are present in some patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but the relationship to symptoms is poorly defined. In adults with IBS, we compared permeability, unstimulated peripheral blood monocyte (PBMC) interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels, IBS life interference, and GI and psychological distress symptoms.In 88 women and 18 men with IBS, GI permeability was quantitated as percent recovery of urinary sucrose and the lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio. IL-10 was measured in supernatants from 72-h incubated, unstimulated PBMCs. Participants completed a 4-week daily diary recording IBS life interference on daily activities and work, IBS symptoms, and psychological distress symptoms. They also completed the Brief Symptom Inventory.The L/M ratio but not percent sucrose recovery was significantly correlated with IBS interference with activities and work and retrospectively measured anxiety and depression. Unstimulated PBMC production of IL-10 correlated significantly with IBS interference with daily work, IBS symptom score, and abdominal pain. We identified a subgroup of IBS subjects with higher IL-10 and/or higher L/M ratio who had substantially higher IBS interference and IBS symptom scores.Our findings suggest a distinct subgroup of IBS patients with alterations in gut barrier function. This subgroup is characterized by increased GI permeability and/or increased PBMC production of IL-10. These physiologic alterations reflect more severe IBS as measured by interference of IBS with daily activities and daily IBS symptoms.

The purpose of this phenomenological analysis was to describe perceptions of women with irritable bowel syndrome regarding the relationship of diet to their symptoms. Thirty-five women ages 18-45 with a medical diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome or symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome were interviewed and completed questionnaires as part of a larger study. During the interview, the women were asked what they thought caused their symptoms. Overall, women tried to adjust their diet to achieve a "Range of Comfort" so their symptoms were tolerable or manageable. To do this, women used a process of "Trial and Error." If a link could be made to diet, then women developed "Self-care Strategies" to maintain a "Healthy Diet." Women who failed to find a relationship during the "Trial and Error" process either felt the frustration of "Uncertainty" or, for a few women, decided that adjusting their diet was not worth the bother. This study suggests diet and eating behaviors are an important starting point for many women as they try to manage their irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.

Hepatitis C viral infection with its sequelae is a significant healthcare problem. Hepatitis C infects nearly 4 million Americans with almost half of these unaware of their infection. Many of those individuals infected with hepatitis C develop chronic hepatitis C and in 15% of these patients, the infection will progress to cirrhosis within 20 years. Several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have demonstrated the negative impact of chronic hepatitis C on health-related quality of life. This review describes what is currently known about the impact of chronic hepatitis C on health-related quality of life during pharmacologic treatment and after liver transplantation. It is important to note that few studies have prospectively followed patients over time with respect to quality of life or examined other factors including symptoms, markers of disease progression, or host immune function. Studies suggest that patients with chronic hepatitis C, even without major disease-related complications, perceive themselves to be unwell and have significant changes in their physical and mental well being. Such results have important implications for nursing care and management. Intervention studies focused on self-care management with an emphasis on symptom reduction are warranted.

Women seek healthcare and are diagnosed more frequently with chronic somatic and visceral pain conditions relative to men. These conditions tend not to be life-threatening disorders, but rather ones that decrease people's quality of life, impinge on work and recreational activities, and increase healthcare resource utilization. With increased awareness of basic gender differences in biology and responsiveness to therapies, there has been renewed interest in factors which may account for the gender disparity in chronic visceral pain conditions. Basic and clinical evidence primarily from patients with irritable bowel syndrome has provided initial insights into visceral pain sensitivity, perception, and responsitivity.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance was assessed in women with and without irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using laboratory tests of function (ie, expiratory/inspiratory ratio, Valsalva, posture changes, and cold pressor) and spectral and nonspectral measures of heart rate variability (HRV). Women with (N = 103) and without IBS (N = 49) were recruited, interviewed, then completed a laboratory assessment and wore a 24-hr Holter monitor Analysis using the entire sample showed little difference between IBS and control women and between subgroups with IBS on either laboratory measures or 24-hr HRV measures. However, analysis restricted to those women with severe IBS symptoms showed quite pronounced differences between two IBS subgroups on 24-hr HRV measures. Parasympathetic tone was significantly lower and ANS balance was significantly higher in the constipation-predominant compared to the diarrhea-predominant group. Subgroups of women with IBS do differ in ANS function as measured by 24-hr HRV; however, these differences are only apparent among women with severe symptoms. These findings point out the importance of considering symptom severity when interpreting studies of IBS.

This analysis evaluated the association between sleep disturbance and gastrointestinal symptoms in women with and without irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and examined the role of psychological distress in this relationship. Women with IBS (N = 82) reported considerably higher levels of sleep disturbance compared to controls (N = 35), using both retrospective seven-day recall and daily diary recall for two menstrual cycles (P < 0.05 on 8 of 10 measures). We used daily diary data to estimate the association between sleep disturbance and gastrointestinal symptoms, both across women (ie, whether women with high average sleep disturbance have higher average gastrointestinal symptoms) and within woman (ie, whether poorer than average sleep on one night is associated with higher than average gastrointestinal symptoms the following day). The regression coefficients for the across-women effect are large and highly significant in both groups (IBS, β ± se = 0.46 ± 0.08, P < 0.001; controls, 0.57 ± 0.13, P < 0.001). The regression coefficients for the within-woman effect are considerably smaller and statistically significant only in the IBS group (IBS, 0.06 ± 0.02, P = 0.006; control, 0.01 ± 0.03, P = 0.691). These regression coefficients showed little change when daily psychological distress or stress was controlled for, the one exception being the coefficient for the across-women effect in the IBS group, which decreased substantially but still remained highly significant. Because it is possible that gastrointestinal symptoms could, in fact, cause poor sleep, we also fitted the temporally reversed model to evaluate the association between gastrointestinal symptoms on one day and sleep disturbance that night. The within-woman regression coefficients were nonsignificant in both the IBS and control groups. In conclusion, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that poor sleep leads to higher gastrointestinal symptoms on the following day among women with IBS.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are reported to experience more symptoms compatible with psychopathologic disorders, abnormal personality traits, and psychological distress. Conversely, individuals with psychiatric disorders report higher levels of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms compatible with IBS. Thus, psychological distress may contribute to GI symptoms in individuals with IBS. OBJECTIVES: To examine psychological distress in women with IBS, women with similar GI symptoms but not diagnosed (IBS nonpatients, IBS-NP), and asymptomatic Control women. METHODS: The women (N=97) were interviewed, completed questionnaires, and maintained daily diaries for 2 months. Across-women and within-woman analyses were used to calculate the results. RESULTS: The IBS and IBS-NP groups had a higher percentage of lifetime psychopathology and recalled psychological distress. At least 40% of the women in the IBS and IBS-NP groups had positive relationships between daily psychological distress and daily GI symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological distress is an important component of the IBS symptom experience and should be considered when treatment strategies are designed.

Irritable bowel syndrome and functional bowel disorder are diagnoses used to describe chronic GI symptoms for which no overt pathological condition can be identified. Symptoms are more common in women and are frequently followed in gastroenterology clinics. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the research linking GI symptoms and reproductive cycling and to discuss implications for practice. GIGl symptoms such as stomach pain and nausea are highest during menses compared with other cycle phases; also, stool consistency is loosest at menses. This pattern is present in control subjects. In women with irritable bowel syndrome the same pattern is seen but with higher symptom intensity. Although animal studies have demonstrated that estrogen and progesterone modulate contractile function of some GI segments. In humans, symptoms are highest when these hormones are at the lowest levels. Thus, symptoms in women may be related to decreasing ovarian hormone levels or to other circulating hormones or factors which vary with the menstrual cycle. Additionally, other factors such as stress aggravate symptoms. Therapeutics directed toward increasing patient awareness of cyclic patterns in symptom complaints, for example, via the use of daily symptom diaries may be a useful adjunct to dietary, pharmacological, and other therapies.

Autonomic nervous system function was assessed in women with and without irritable bowel syndrome using frequency domain measures of heart rate variability. Women were interviewed and placed into the irritable bowel syndrome (N = 25) group based on history of diagnosis and self-report of current gastrointestinal symptoms. Women in the control group denied a history of chronic gastrointestinal symptoms (N = 15). Women were followed for one menstrual cycle with a symptom diary, and during mid-luteal phase they wore a Holter 24-hr electrocardiograph monitor. Women with irritable bowel syndrome demonstrated significantly lower vagal tone as measured by the high frequency spectrum relative to control women. In addition, women with irritable bowel syndrome had a flattened 24-hr pattern of heart rate variability, with significantly lower levels of vagal tone during sleep. These results suggest that systemic sympathovagal balance may be shifted in a subset of women with irritable bowel syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare physiological variables at baseline and in response to laboratory stress among women diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, n = 26), women with undiagnosed chronic gastrointestinal symptoms consistent with IBS (IBS-NP, n = 24), and asymptomatic women (n = 22). Urine catecholamine levels were measured in the first voided specimen on the morning of testing. Cardiovascular variables were measured at baseline and repeatedly during the Stroop Color-Word Conflict Test (Stroop). Women in the IBS group had higher baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) than the control group and higher basal urine norepinephrine (NE) levels than the IBS-NP group. Control for activity or body mass reduced the group difference in SBP to nonsignificance but did not affect the observed difference in urine NE. There were no significant differences among the groups in other baseline values or in response to the Stroop. These results suggest that, despite higher basal urine catecholamine levels, cardiovascular reactivity to a cognitive challenge in a laboratory setting is not elevated in women with diagnosed IBS.

Research on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal (GI) system, has linked GI symptoms to stress. This study examined the relationship between daily stress and GI symptoms across women and within woman in IBS patients (n = 26), IBS nonpatients (IBS-NP; n = 23), and controls (n = 26), controlling for menstrual cycle phase. Women (ages 20-45) completed daily health diaries for two cycles in which they monitored daily GI symptoms and stress levels. The Life Event Survey (LES) was used as a retrospective measure of self-reported stress. The across-women analyses showed higher mean GI symptoms and stress in the IBS and IBS-NP groups relative to controls but no group differences in LES scores. The within-woman analyses found a significant and positive relationship between daily stress and daily symptoms in both the IBS-NP and the IBS groups. Controlling for menstrual cycle had no substantial impact on the results.

The relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and uterine cramping pain at menses, controlling for affective states and prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor use, was examined. A total of 53 women completed a daily diary of symptoms, stool characteristics, and medication use for three consecutive menstrual cycles. There were significant across-women and within-woman relationships between stomach pain, nausea, and uterine cramping pain, but not between cramping pain and constipation, diarrhea, or stool characteristics. These results support the presence of a similar mechanism in the generation of distressing GI symptoms and uterine cramping pain at menses.