Stress and Somatization in IBS Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Akhlaq Saira, Kazmi Nosheen, Kazmi Syed Murtaza Hassan, Atiq Muslim, Hussain Sajawal, Bajwa Ahmed, Ahad Abdul, Akhtar Muhammad Yaqoob, Akhlaq Kalsoom, Rizwan Mohammad
Primary Institution: Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Hypothesis
Does stress mediate somatization symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Conclusion
Stress-related somatic symptoms are positively correlated with somatization complaints in IBS patients, especially among the elderly.
Supporting Evidence
- IBS patients reported high levels of somatization symptoms.
- Stress was found to significantly predict variations in somatization scores.
- Older patients had the highest mean scores for somatization symptoms.
Takeaway
This study found that stress can make IBS symptoms worse, especially in older people. Helping people manage their stress might make them feel better.
Methodology
This cross-sectional study used questionnaires to assess somatization symptoms and stress in IBS patients at Shifa International Hospital.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to purposeful sampling and self-reported data.
Limitations
The study used purposeful sampling, which may introduce bias, and had a small sample size for SSD and IBS-SSD groups.
Participant Demographics
Majority of participants were young (under 50 years) and male, with a significant portion having a high school diploma.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
R2 = 69.6% for IBS sample
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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