THE PREVALENCE OF SYMPTOMS OF IRRITABLE-BOWEL-SYNDROME AMONG ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS WITH AN AFFECTIVE DIAGNOSIS

An interview study of 87 inpatients with affective diagnoses, accordin g to the International Classification of Diseases (9th Edition), yield ed a prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) of 39.7%, approximat ely twice that found in the general population. The IBS symptoms almos t invariably preceded the onset of the affective disorder, but were ex acerbated by it. The consultation rate for bowel symptoms (41.9%) was greater than that in the general population. In this study, 69.2% of c onsulters and 55.5% of nonconsulters had experienced an exacerbation o f their IBS symptoms since the onset of their emotional disorder These findings suggest that such disorders may influence the subjective sev erity of IBS and also consultation behavior, but do not play a major p art in the etiology of the gastrointestinal symptoms.