Authors: Simren M, Axelsson J, Gillberg R, Abrahamsson H, Svedlund J, Bjornsson ES.

Institution: Department of Internal Medicine and Section of Psychiatry, Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden.

Objectives: Quality of life is reduced in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Whether or not this is true in IBD patients in long-standing remission is unclear. Symptoms compatible with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common in IBD patients in remission. The importance of psychological factors in this process is a matter of controversy.

Results: The psychological well-being in IBD patients in long-standing remission was similar to that of the general population, despite the presence of more severe GI symptoms. CD patients reported more psychosocial dysfunction, reduced well-being, and GI symptoms than UC patients. Thirty-three percent of UC patients and 57% of CD patients had IBS-like symptoms. The group with IBS-like symptoms (both UC and CD) had higher levels of anxiety and depression and more reduced well-being than those without. Anxiety and reduced vitality were found to be independent predictors for IBS-like symptoms in these patients.

Conclusion: The prevalence of IBS-like symptoms in IBD patients in long-standing remission is two to three times higher than that in the normal population. Psychological factors seem to be of importance in this process. However, as a group IBD patients in remission demonstrate psychological well-being comparable to that of the general population.

Study link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11866278&query_hl=5&itool=pubmed_docsum

• Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Remission: the Impact of IBS-like Symptoms and Associated Psychological Factors
• Identification of a Prodromal Period in Crohn's Disease but not Ulcerative Colitis
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Separate or Unified?
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome