Psychological factors in the irritable bowel syndrome.

This paper reviews recent psychological studies of patients with the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or 'functional abdominal pain'. Many studies have used unreliable or invalid methods of assessment and some have confused personality with treatable psychiatric illness. Reliable and valid measures have indicated that 40-50% of patients with recently diagnosed functional abdominal pain have demonstrable psychiatric illness; these patients have a worse prognosis than those who are psychologically normal. When psychiatric disorder is diagnosed in a patient with IBS there are three possibilities: (1) The patient may have developed abdominal and psychiatric symptoms simultaneously in which case treatment of the latter may relieve the bowel symptoms. (2) Psychiatric disorder may precipitate increased concern about bowel symptoms, and consequent attendance at the gastroenterology clinic, of those with chronic mild symptoms. In this case it is illness behaviour, rather than abdominal symptoms, that is caused by the anxiety/depression. (3) Those with chronic neurotic symptoms as part of their personality must be screened for organic disease if they have a fresh onset of bowel symptoms; but they are at high risk of becoming persistent clinic attenders. Further research is needed to clarify when psychological abnormalities play a role in the aetiology of IBS and when they are coincidental, but lead to illness behaviour. The role of psychological factors in the aetiology of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is far from clear, but a review of the literature suggests that some consistent patterns are emerging in spite of methodological problems. There have been three major defects with studies that have linked IBS with neurotic symptomatology. First, the measurement of psychological factors has generally been imprecise. Second, most studies have considered IBS patients as a single group, without making allowance for differing symptom patterns. Third, conclusions have been drawn about hospital samples and extrapolated to all IBS subjects, without taking account of factors which affect consulting behaviour. Most studies have been concerned with psychological factors so these will be considered in most detail.     

Irritable bowel syndrome in the gynecological clinic

A study of the prevalence of symptoms suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome in 798 women referred to a gynecological clinic is reported; 321 women referred to dermatology and ear, nose, and throat clinics served as controls. Data were collected by a mailed symptom questionnaire. The prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in the gynecological group was 37.3% compared with 27.7% in controls (P=0.003). Approximately 50% of women referred with abdominal pain, dyspareunia, and dysmenorrhea had symptoms compatible with irritable bowel syndrome (P<0.005), whereas the prevalence in those referred for cervical abnormalities, termination/sterilization or perineal problems was similar to that of controls (28%). Patients referred with urinary symptoms, heavy periods, nonmenstrual bleeding, vaginal discharge, and infertility had an intermediate prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (35–45%). This study suggests that either many women with irritable bowel syndrome are being wrongly referred to gynecologists or raises the possibility that symptoms currently regarded as indicative of irritable bowel syndrome may be associated with certain gynecological disorders.     

Lactulose breath test results in patients with persistent abdominal symptoms following Giardia lamblia infection

OBJECTIVE: Bacterial overgrowth has been implicated in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The objective of this study was to investigate whether post-infectious IBS following Giardia lamblia infection is related to intestinal bacterial overgrowth, as diagnosed by the lactulose breath test (LBT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients with persistent gastrointestinal complaints related to a recent outbreak of G. lamblia infection were included in the study. Despite one or several courses of treatment with metronidazole during the previous months, 23 of the patients were still stool positive for G. lamblia, whereas the remaining 54 patients had cleared the infection. All patients and 42 healthy volunteers underwent a LBT with 10 g lactulose, and their customary and post-LBT abdominal symptoms were scored. RESULTS: Ninety-five percent of the patients had IBS. Lactulose-induced hydrogen breath excretion was not significantly different in patients and controls. Customary and post-LBT symptoms were abnormally high in the patients, irrespective of both G. lamblia infection status and LBT results. Furthermore, lactulose challenge replicated the patients' customary complaints in 70% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Gastrointestinal complaints in patients with persistent or cleared giardiasis were unrelated to hydrogen breath excretion after lactulose challenge. Post-giardiasis IBS cannot be ascribed to intestinal bacterial overgrowth, as diagnosed by LBT.     

Irritable bowel syndrome consulters in Zhejiang province： The symptoms pattern, predominant bowel habit subgroups and quality of life

AIM: To investigate the pattern of symptoms, predominant bowel habits and quality of life (QOL) by the Chinese version of the SF-36 in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) consulters in Zhejiang province. METHODS: From January 2001 to January 2002, 662 Roma Ⅱ criteria-positive IBS patients were enrolled by gastroenterologists in 10 hospitals from Digestive Disease Center of Zhejiang (DDCZ). Patients were classified into constipation predominant IBS (IBS-C), diarrhea predominant IBS (IBS-D) and alternating constipation and diarrhea IBS (IBS-A) according to the predominant bowel habits. All patients were evaluated for the demographic checklists, IBS bowel symptoms, extra-colonic symptoms, and QOL by Chinese version of the SF-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: (1) Besides abdominal pain, the predominant colonic symptoms were in order of altered stool form, abnormalities of stool passage, abdominal distension and passage of mucus in IBS patients. Also, IBS subjects reported generalized body discomfort and psychosocial problems including dyspeptic symptoms, poor appetite, heartburn, headache, back pain, difficulty with urination, fatigue, anxiety and depression. (2) IBS-C and IBS-A are more common among female patients, whereas male patients experienced more cases of IBS-D. In regards to the IBS symptoms, there were significant differences among IBS subgroups. Abdominal pain (frequency ≥2 days per week and duration ≥1 hour per day) was frequent in IBS-A patients (P=0.010 and 0.027, respectively), IBS-D patients more frequently experienced the passage of mucus, dyspeptic symptoms and anxiety (P=0.000, 0.014 and 0.015, respectively). (3) IBS patients experienced significant impairment in QOL, decrements in QOL were most pronounced in vitality, general health, mental health, and bodily pain. Compared with the general population (adjusted for gender and age), IBS patients scored significantly lower on all SF-scales (P&lt;0.001), except for physical function scale (P=0.149). (4) QOL was impaired in all subgroups, particularly in scales of vitality, general health and mental health. Compared with IBS-D, QOL in IBS-C scored significantly lower on physical function, role physical, general health, role emotional, and mental health scales (P=-0.037, 0.040, 0.039, 0.005 and 0.026, respectively). CONCLUSION: Besides colonic symptoms, IBS could cause generalized body discomfort and psychosocial problems. The IBS subgroups based on predominant bowel habits are helpful to identify clinical distinction of the IBS. QOL is significantly impaired in IBS patients. The Chinese version of the SF-36 health survey scales may be a useful measurement of IBS patients.     

Postpartum fecal incontinence is more common in women with irritable bowel syndrome

PURPOSE: Anal sphincter damage can occur during vaginal delivery and may lead to impairment of fecal continence. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of irritable bowel syndrome on symptoms of fecal incontinence following first vaginal delivery. METHODS: A prospective, observational study was performed before delivery, six weeks, and six months following delivery in primiparous women. A bowel function questionnaire was completed, and anal vector manometry, mucosal electrosensitivity, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency, and anal endosonography were performed. A total of 208 women were assessed before and after delivery, and 104 primigravid women were studied after delivery only. A total of 34 of 312 (11 percent) had an existing diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. RESULTS: The prevalence of abnormal manometry or endosonography was similar in women with and without irritable bowel syndrome. However, six weeks after delivery, women with irritable bowel syndrome had a higher incidence of defecatory urgency (64 percent) and loss of control of flatus (35 percent) compared with those without (urgency, 10 percent,P<0.001; flatus, 13 percent,P=0.007). The incidence of frank fecal incontinence was similar in the two groups. Women with IBS had increased mucosal sensitivity to electrical stimulation of the upper anal canal both before and after delivery. CONCLUSION: Women with IBS are more likely to experience subjective alteration of fecal continence postpartum compared with the healthy primigravid population, but they are not at increased risk of anal sphincter injury.     

Symptoms of psychologic distress associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Comparison of community and medical clinic samples

Women with symptoms indicative of irritable bowel syndrome who had not consulted a physician were compared with female patients at a gastroenterology clinic to investigate whether self-selection for treatment accounts for psychologic abnormalities in clinic patients' with irritable bowel syndrome. Two sets of diagnostic criteria were compared: restrictive criteria based on the work of Manning and conventional criteria (abdominal pain plus altered bowel habits). Lactose malabsorbers were included as a control group because they have medically explained bowel symptoms similar to those that define irritable bowel syndrome. Thus they control for the causative effects of chronic bowel symptoms on psychologic distress. Women who met restrictive criteria for irritable bowel syndrome but had not consulted a physician had no more symptoms of psychologic distress on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist than asymptomatic controls. However, medical clinic patients with both irritable bowel syndrome and lactose malabsorption had significantly more psychologic symptoms than asymptomatic controls or nonconsulters with the same diagnoses. Individuals who met only the conventional criteria for irritable bowel syndrome reported more psychologic distress than controls, whether or not they consulted a physician. These results suggest that (a) symptoms of psychologic distress are unrelated to irritable bowel syndrome but influence which patients consult a doctor and (b) conventional diagnostic criteria identify more psychologically distressed individuals than do restrictive criteria.     

Clinical symptoms, psychopathology and intestinal motility in patients with "irritable bowel"

Recent investigations of pathogenesis of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) either suggested psychopathology as the cause of bowel symptoms or proposed abnormalities in colonic motor and myoelectrical activity. Therefore, we prospectively compared clinical symptoms, personality traits, subjective stress reports, and motor and myoelectrical activity of the sigmoid colon and rectum in patients with IBS, patients with lactose malabsorption (LMA) who had not consulted a doctor for bowel complaints, and normal subjects. It could be shown that neither colonic activity nor stress distinguished patients with IBS from those with LMA. Patients with IBS exhibited significantly more clinical symptoms and psychopathology than patients with LMA and normal subjects. These findings suggest that psychopathology does not cause the symptoms or results from bowel dysfunctions but determines who will consult a doctor for bowel complaints.     

Symptoms discriminate irritable bowel syndrome from organic gastrointestinal diseases and food allergy

BACKGROUND: The value of specific gastrointestinal symptoms in discriminating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from organic disease has been documented. In contrast, there have been few attempts to identify symptoms that discriminate irritable bowel syndrome from food allergy, despite similarities in their respective symptom complexes. We aimed to investigate the value of symptoms in discriminating irritable bowel syndrome from organic disease and food allergy. METHODS: Subjects (n = 288) were recruited from consecutive patients presenting to the Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Allergy Units in Chieti. Patients completed the validated Bowel Disease Questionnaire (BDQ) prior to an independent diagnostic evaluation, which included endoscopy when appropriate. Food allergy was diagnosed using a 2-week elimination diet, followed by a placebo-controlled food challenge test, a skin prick test and serum RAST for specific IgE for suspected foods or additives. The results of the BDQ were not considered in formulating a diagnosis. In total, 99 patients were diagnosed with the IBS, 79 patients were diagnosed with organic disease and 22 patients were diagnosed with food allergy. A further 88 patients with extraintestinal allergies were included as a control group. RESULTS: Based on logistic regression analysis, six symptom items discriminated IBS from organic disease, while five symptoms discriminated patients with IBS from control subjects. A diagnosis of IBS compared to organic disease was positively associated with straining on defaecation (P=0.0001), diarrhoea (P=0.001) and abdominal bloating (P=0.01), but was negatively associated with pain in the upper abdomen (P=0.0004), reflux (P=0.0001) and appetite loss (P=0.004). A diagnosis of IBS compared to extraintestinal allergy was positively associated with pain relieved by bowel movement (P=0.0001), pain in the lower abdomen (P=0.0006), pain in both the upper and lower abdomen (P=0.003), frequent pain (P=0.001) and abdominal bloating (P=0.0009). In comparison between IBS and food allergy patients, a diagnosis of IBS was positively associated with pain in the lower abdomen (P=0.001), pain relieved by bowel movements (P=0.001), frequent pain (P=0.02) and abdominal bloating (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Symptoms appear to be useful for discriminating IBS from organic gastrointestinal disease and food allergy.     

Visceral perception thresholds after rectal thermal and pressure stimuli in irritable bowel syndrome patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Visceral hypersensitivity has been shown to be present in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The current study sought to compare the characteristics of visceral perception thresholds after rectal thermal and pressure stimuli between IBS patients and healthy subjects. METHODS: A total of 46 patients with IBS were diagnosed using Rome II criteria. Thirteen healthy individuals participated in the study. Rectal visceral perception thresholds were examined in patients with IBS and in normal controls after thermal and pressure stimuli. Subjects were asked to report the sensation type, location, and spread. RESULTS: Compared with healthy subjects, IBS patients demonstrated significantly initially lower perception thresholds and defecation thresholds to rectal thermal and pressure stimuli, particularly in patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS. Ice stimuli on the abdominal wall had varied effects on symptoms in patients with IBS and did not affect perception thresholds. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral perception thresholds were decreased significantly after rectal thermal and pressure stimuli in patients with IBS. Visceral hypersensitivity may be one of the important pathogenic mechanisms in IBS.     

Mechanisms Underlying Visceral Hypersensitivity in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Visceral hypersensitivity is currently considered a key pathophysiological mechanism involved in pain perception in large subgroups of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In IBS, visceral hypersensitivity has been described in 20%–90% of patients. The contribution of the central nervous system and psychological factors to visceral hypersensitivity in patients with IBS may be significant, although still debated. Peripheral factors have gained increasing attention following the recognition that infectious enteritis may trigger the development of persistent IBS symptoms, and the identification of mucosal immune, neural, endocrine, microbiological, and intestinal permeability abnormalities. Growing evidence suggests that these factors play an important role in pain transmission from the periphery to the brain via sensory nerve pathways in large subsets of patients with IBS. In this review, we will report on recent data on mechanisms involved in visceral hypersensitivity in IBS, with particular attention paid to peripheral mechanisms.     

肠易激综合征流行病学研究现状与进展

肠易激综合征(irritable bowel syndrome,IBS)是一种以慢性或者反复发作的腹痛伴排便习惯改变为特征的功能性肠病,并缺乏形态学和生化标志的异常。IBS是一种全球性疾病,人群患病率较高,其症状可反复发作,严重影响患者的生活质量,并占用了大量的医疗资源。IBS的病因和发病机制尚未明了,随着对IBS认识的不断深入和发展,国内外在不同时期,采用不同的标准和方法,对IBS的流行病学进行了较深入的研究,但不同国家和地区、不同人群的IBS患病率及其分布特征研究结果不尽相同,影响IBS的危险因素主要包括社会心理因素及遗传、感染、食物、药物因素等,现就近年来国内外IBS流行病学的研究情况作一综述。     

帕罗西汀治疗肠易激综合征患者的情绪障碍及腹部症状

探讨选择性５－羟色胺现摄取抑制剂（ＳＳＲＩ）帕罗西汀治疗肠易激综合征（ＩＢＳ）的疗效,以及ＩＢＳ患者精神症状与腹部症状的关系。方法：３６例有精神障碍表现的ＩＢＳ患者服用幅罗西汀治疗８周,治疗前后分别对患者行汉密尔顿抑郁量表（ＨＡＭＤ）、汉密尔顿焦虑量表（ＨＡＭＡ）和胃肠道症状计分标准（ＧＳＲＳ）评分并分析３种 发的相关性。结果：ＩＢＳ患者服用帕罗西汀治疗前后的ＨＡＭＤ、ＨＡＭＡ和ＧＳＲＳ评分存在显     

Altered small bowel motility in irritable bowel syndrome is correlated with symptoms

The pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been related more to dysmotility of the colon than to abnormalities of the small intestine. To look for small bowel abnormalities, we recorded ultraluminal pressures in 16 patients with IBS. All patients complained of abdominal pain, and diarrhea (n = 8) or constipation (n = 8) were also prominent symptoms. Comparable studies were performed on 16 age-matched controls. The observations include diurnal and nocturnal fasting recordings and the response to a fatty meal. Periodicities of the interdigestive migrating myoelectric complexes were shorter in IBS (p less than 0.05); this was due to much shorter diurnal cycles in patients with diarrhea (77 +/- 10 min) than those with constipation (118 +/- 15 min) or controls (113 +/- 10 min, both p less than 0.05). All groups exhibited circadian changes, with nocturnal cycles being more frequent. Two specific patterns of small bowel motor activity were more common in IBS--ileal propulsive waves and clusters of jejunal pressure activity (both p less than 0.05 compared to controls). Moreover, cramping abdominal pain was usually noted in IBS when ileal motility was propulsive; jejunal bursts were also sometimes associated with abdominal symptoms. We conclude that motility of the small intestine is modified in some patients with IBS and that certain motor patterns are related to their symptoms.     

Symptoms and physiology in severe chronic constipation

Objective: Symptoms of constipation have been attributed to slow colon transit, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Our aim was to determine the existence of symptom-based constipation subgroups and whether these correspond to differences in colonic transit and anorectal sensorimotor function. Methods: Constipated patients (n = 108) completed questionnaires, and underwent colon transit studies, anorectal manometry, and rectal sensory testing. Factor analysis of symptoms was performed. Factor-based symptom scores were correlated with physiological findings. Results: Three symptom factors were identified as compatible with slow colonic transit, IBS, and PFD. There was a significant correlation between the symptoms of slow transit and total and rectosigmoid colon transit. There were also significant correlations between both the IBS symptom score and the number of Manning criteria with measures of rectal hypersensitivity typical of IBS. Neither PFD symptom scores nor symptoms of straining correlated with any electromyographic or manometric measure of anal defecatory function or with rectosigmoid colon transit. Based on physiological testing patients were classified as slow transit, visceral hypersensitivity (typical of IBS), PFD, or no abnormalities found. As expected, slow-transit patients had symptoms of infrequent stools and patients with visceral hypersensitivity had an increased number of Manning criteria for IBS. Patients with PFD physiology and those with no detectable abnormalities had no specific symptoms. Conclusions: Three symptom-based subgroups for constipation were confirmed: slow transit, IBS, and PFD. Slow transit and IBS symptoms correlated with expected physiology. Conversely, PFD symptoms and physiology did not correlate.     

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)—Is It One Disease or an Overlap of Two Disorders?

Up to 79% of IBS patients report gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms, and up to 71% of GERD patients report irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. There are two principal hypotheses for the common presence of IBS symptoms in GERD patients. The first theory suggests that GERD and IBS overlap in a significant number of patients. The second theory suggests that IBS-like symptoms are part of the spectrum of GERD manifestation. The first theory is supported by genetic studies and similarities in gastrointestinal sensory-motor abnormalities potentially due to general gastrointestinal disorder of smooth muscle or sensory afferents. The other theory is primarily supported by studies demonstrating improvement of IBS-like symptoms in GERD patients receiving anti-reflux treatment. The close relationship between GERD and IBS could be explained by either GERD affecting different levels of the GI tract or a high overlap rate between GERD and IBS due to similar underlying GI dysfunction.     

Fructose-sorbitol malabsorption

Important dietary carbohydrates such as fructose and sorbitol are incompletely absorbed in the normal small intestine. This malabsorption is sometimes associated with abdominal complaints and diarrhea development, symptoms indistinguishable from those of functional bowel disease. Recently, polymerized forms of fructose (fructans) also were implicated in symptom production in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Evidence from uncontrolled and controlled challenge studies suggests that malabsorbed sugars (fructose, sorbitol, lactose) and fructans may act as dietary triggers for clinical symptoms suggestive of IBS. Further placebo-controlled studies are needed to obtain definite conclusions about the role of dietary sugar malabsorption in functional bowel disease.     

Dysmotility of the small intestine in irritable bowel syndrome.

Though the pathophysiology of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is commonly attributed to dysfunction of the large intestine, evidence exists to incriminate the small bowel. In order to further explore the role of the small bowel in IBS several stimuli were applied, in an attempt to unmask the dysmotility of the jejunum and ileum. These included infusions of cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-OP), a high fat meal, neostigmine and balloon distension of the ileum. Three groups (n = 8) each of age and sex matched healthy volunteers were studied; patients with IBS complained of predominant constipation (n = 8) or diarrhoea (n = 8). Patients with IBS responded excessively to stimulation by CCK-OP, fatty meal, and ileal distension. In general patients with diarrhoea were more sensitive to stimuli than those with constipation. The ileum responded more to stimulation than the jejunum. As in the large bowel, stimuli appear to unmask intestinal dysmotility in patients with IBS. Motor abnormalities were often accompanied by abdominal symptoms, raising the possibility that dysfunction of the small bowel contributes to the symptoms of IBS.     

Irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis: a comparison of symptomatology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Both irritable bowel syndrome and some gynaecological diseases can give rise to lower abdominal pain, which may result in diagnostic confusion. Disorders such as endometriosis and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease can be diagnosed definitively only by laparoscopy, which is seldom undertaken in the gastroenterological setting. It was the aim of this study to compare the symptomatology of irritable bowel syndrome with that of laparoscopically confirmed chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A symptom questionnaire was administered to 50 women with irritable bowel syndrome and 51 gynaecological patients (30 patients with endometriosis, 21 patients with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease). As the symptoms of the two gynaecological conditions were so similar, the groups were combined for the purposes of comparison with irritable bowel syndrome. RESULTS: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome suffered significantly more upper abdominal pain, colicky pain and exacerbation of pain by food or stress. They also experienced more disturbance of bowel habit, distension and nausea. In contrast, the only gynaecological features that were more common in the gynaecological patients were intermenstrual bleeding, premenstrual exacerbation of pain and forniceal tenderness. CONCLUSION: The presence of gastrointestinal symptomatology, especially bowel dysfunction, in a woman with lower abdominal pain is suggestive of irritable bowel syndrome. However, the history may not be so helpful in detecting gynaecological disease.     

感染后肠易激综合征研究现状

肠易激综合征（IBS）是最常见的功能性胃肠病之一,已有研究证据表明其可能是多种因素共同作用的结果,包括遗传和环境因素、胃肠动力改变、内脏高敏感、肠道感染和炎症、慢性应激、肠道细菌过度生长和脑-肠轴功能紊乱等。部分患者在急性肠道感染恢复后仍存在腹痛、腹部不适、腹泻等症状,即感染后肠易激综合征（PI-IBS）,是近年功能性胃肠病的研究热点。本文就PI-IBS的定义、流行病学、发病机制、动物模型、临床特征、诊断和治疗等研究现状作一概述。     

Gastrointestinal symptoms related to the irritable bowel syndrome – a longitudinal population-based register study

Objective Functional gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can develop into persistent states often categorised as the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In the severe end of the GI symptom continuum, other coexisting symptoms are common. We aimed to investigate the GI symptom continuum in relation to mortality and development of GI diseases, and to examine if coexisting symptoms had an influence on the outcomes. Material and methods A longitudinal population-based study comprising two 5-year follow-up studies: Dan-Monica1 (1982–1987) and Inter99 (1999–2004). IBS was defined according to a population-based IBS definition. The pooled cohort (n?=?7278) was followed until December 2013 in Central Registries. Results Fifty-one percent had no GI symptoms, 39% had GI symptoms but never fulfilled the IBS definition, 8% had fluctuating IBS and 2% had persisting IBS. There was no significant association between symptom groups and mortality (p?=?0.47). IBS and GI symptoms with abdominal pain were significantly associated with development of GI diseases. Only GI symptoms with abdominal pain were associated with development of severe GI diseases (HR: 1.38; 95% CI: [1.06–1.79]). There were no statistically significant interactions between symptom groups and coexisting symptoms in relation to the two outcomes. Conclusions GI diseases were seen more frequently, but IBS was not associated with severe GI diseases or increased mortality. Clinicians should be more aware when patients do not fulfil the IBS definition, but continue to report frequent abdominal pain. Coexisting symptoms did not influence mortality and development of GI diseases.