The researchers prospectively evaluated 193 patients diagnosed with IBS from Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden between 2005 and 2008.
Here are five points:
1. Researchers found significant primary effects of anxiety levels on fullness and bloating and of depression levels on abdominal pain.
2. The researchers also observed the main effects of somatization levels on all five symptoms independent of anxiety and depression.
3. Depression-by-time interactions were observed for nausea and gas and somatization-by-time interactions were observed for bloating and nausea.
4. A non-significant trend was also observed for interactions between somatization and abdominal pain, which showed patients with higher levels of somatization had a steeper increase in pain rating in the early postprandial period.
5. The researchers concluded their evidence shows that meal ingestion and level of psychological distress not only contribute independently to increased GI symptom reporting in IBS, but that they may in some cases interact with psychological symptoms, particularly depression and somatization, being associated with enhanced postprandial GI symptom responses.
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