Effect of relaxation with drug therapy on the psychological symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea dominant [IBS-D]

Irritable bowel syndrome is the most prevalent functional bowel disorder which is characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habit in the absence of organic disease. Psychological factors are of the major factors involved in this disease. The aim of this study was comparison of the effect of relaxation with and without drug therapy on the psychological symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea predominant [IBS-D]. This clinical- trial study was performed on 32 IBS-diarrhea dominant patients. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group was treated by using relaxation technique without drug therapy and another group was treated by using relaxation technique combined with drug therapy. Diagnostic characters of Rome-II and III were used for diagnosing the IBS-D patients and SCL-90 test was used for evaluating the psychological symptoms. The study was performed in three steps, pretest, post test and 4 months after last intervention [follow up group]. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance [ANCOVA] method. The average age of the patients in this study was 37 +/- 15.43 years. Our study demonstrated that there was a significant reduction in psychological symptoms scores in post test and follow up groups compared to the pre test group. This reduction was higher in patients receiving relaxation combined to drug therapy compared to the drug therapy group [P<0.05]. Based on the results of this study, Combination of relaxation and drug therapy is effective for reducing the psychological symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome patients

[Study on validity of farsi version of irritable bowel syndrome quality of life questionnaire [IBS-QOL-34]]

This study aimed to evaluate psychometric characteristics [diagnostic validity and reliability] of quality of life questionnaire in irritable bowel syndrome [IBS-QOL] which is a popular inter-cultural measure. According to ROME II criteria 126 patients were included by the caring physician in Alzahra and Noor hospital clinics in Isfahan, Iran. Results: Eight scales of the questionnaire and total quality of life measure showed good internal reliability [Cronbach alpha=0.93 for the whole questionnaire, 0.88 for dysphoria, 0.67 for activities interference, 0.72 for body image, 0.57 for health worry, 0.57 for food abstinence, 0.71 for social reaction, 0.76 for sexual worry, 0.62 for interpersonal relations]. The validity was measured against another quality of life questionnaire [IBS-QOL-36] and a significant correlation was found [r=0.61. p<0.01]. To evaluate diagnostic accuracy 40 patients were compared with 40 healthy subjects. Except for body image scale other parts of questionnaire and the global quality of life were significantly different between these two groups [p<0.05]. Generally, Farsi version of IBS-QOL questionnaire was found to be a valid and reliable mean to study patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Evaluating the relationship between irritable bowel syndrome and stress

Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal system characterized by special gastrointestinal symptoms without organic cause. The etiology of IBS is not clearly known but individuals with IBS mainly report symptoms compatible with psychopathologic disorders, abnormal personality traits and psychological distress. Objective of this study was to evaluate relationship between life event stress and IBS. This is a case-control survey performed on 76 patients with gastrointestinal disturbances with a diagnosis of IBS and were compared with the control group. The control group were randomly selected from all individuals without previous history of gastrointestinal disorder or referral to an internist and matched with the case group. Research tools included Paykel life event stressor test [with some modification], diagnostic criteria checklist foe IBS [Rome II], a checklist for demographic information and clinical interview. Data analysis was done by SPSS software. There was significant correlation between stress and IBS [P=0.002]. In other words, the rate and severity of stress in IBS group was higher than control group. Other findings showed that among 65 life event stressors in IDS patients, the most severe stressor was related to consort death and the least severe was mild physical disorder. The most frequent stress in this group was increasing of life expenses which was reported by 50% of patients as one of the most prevalent life stressor, whereas it was 42% in the control group. Psychological distress and life event stressors are important components on IBS patients' life, which should be considered in designing therapeutic strategies

[Comparison of self-esteem and coping responses in infertile and fertile couples from Shahrekord, during 2003-2004]

Infertility is an illness in which, women during a years of sexual intercourse and without the use of contraceptive methods, are unable to become pregnant. Self-esteem is a psychological method by which a person assesses oneself. Coping responses are conscious rational ways for dealing with the anxieties of life. Psychological researches in infertile couples showed that infertility is a bio-psychosocial crisis that can create psychological problems in these individuals. Therefore, the aim this study was to compare self-esteem and coping responses in fertile and infertile couples from Shahrekord during 2003-2004. In a cross-sectional study so couples of fertile and so couples of infertile referred to gynecology clinic of Hojar hospital in Shahrekord were selected, randomly, during 6 month period. Questionnaire included Coper Smith self-esteem, Billings and Moos coping responses. Sata were analyzed by t-test and Spearman correlation. The results showed that the average of self-esteem scores in infertile couples [27.3] is less than [32.7] fertile couples [p<0.05]. Also there was no significant difference between infertile and fertile couples on the coping responses [p>0.05]. Psychologic effects of infertility is very important and should be considered intensivery in in fertile couples to decrease the following problems