Irritable bowel syndrome/psychological coherence and quality of life

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  July, 2004  by Robert A. Anderson

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare sense of coherence (SOC) and holistic quality of life (QOL) of women with and without IBS. A two-group comparison design involved 235 women with IBS and 89 controls without IBS who completed four psychological instruments (Sense of Coherence Questionnaire, Flanagan QOL Scale, Bowel Disease Questionnaire, and Symptom-Checklist-90-R). Sense of coherence and holistic quality of life were lower in women with IBS (p<0.001). Correlations between SOC and global distress, depression, anxiety, and somatization without GI symptoms were moderately and inversely related (p<0.001). Relationships between holistic QOL and psychological distress indicators were universally of lower magnitude (p<.001). The GI symptom most significantly related to SOC and holistic QOL was alternating constipation and diarrhea (p<0.001).

Motzer SA, Hertig V, Jarrett M, Heitkemper MM. Sense of coherence and quality of life in women with and without irritable bowel syndrome. Nurs Res 2003 Sep-Oct; 52(5):329-37

Comment: This study was not designed to determine whether interventions targeted at enhancing SOC and holistic QOL can impact the psychological distress associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Nor did it distinguish which is the cart and which is the horse: i.e. did a diminished sense of coherence contribute to or result from symptoms of IBS? The global research would seem to indicate that there are elements of bi-directional effects of both. My own experience would bear out the benefits of cognitive and behavioral interventions in reducing GI symptoms and improving quality of life.

COPYRIGHT 2004 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group