ABDOMINAL-PAIN AND IRRITABLE-BOWEL-SYNDROME IN ADOLESCENTS - A COMMUNITY-BASED STUDY

Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine (1) the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain in a community-b ased population of adolescents, (2) whether a subgroup of these subjec ts have symptoms resembling irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and (3) wh ether anxiety and depression are more commonly found in adolescents wi th IBS-type symptoms compared with unaffected adolescents. Methods: We collected data by administration of a gastrointestinal symptoms quest ionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Children's Depression Inv entory to middle school and high school students. Results: A total of 507 subjects participated (mean age of middle school students 12.6 yea rs; mean age of high school students 15.6 years), Abdominal pain was n oted by 75% of all students. The pain occurred weekly in 13% to 17% of the subjects and was severe enough to affect activities in approximat ely 21%, Irritable bowel syndrome-type symptoms were noted by 17% of h igh school students and 8% of middle school students (p < 0.01) who re ported abdominal pain (n = 381), representing 14% and 6% of all high s chool and middle school students (p < 0.005), respectively, Anxiety an d depression scores were significantly higher for students with IBS-ty pe symptoms compared with those without symptoms, Eight percent of all students had seen a physician for abdominal pain in the previous year , These visits were correlated with abdominal pain severity, frequency , duration, and disruption of normal activities but not with anxiety, depression, gender, family structure, or ethnicity. Conclusion: Recurr ent abdominal pain and symptoms of IBS are commonly noted in a communi ty-based adolescent population and frequently result in use of health care resources, Health care providers who work with this age group nee d to be able to recognize the symptom complex associated with IBS, as well as the possible relationship to anxiety and depression.