Overly anxious, driven linked to IBS

SOUTHAMPTON, England (UPI) -- Overly anxious and driven people are susceptible to irritable bowel syndrome, according to British researchers.

Researchers at the University of Southampton studied 620 people who had confirmed gastroenteritis caused by a bacterial infection -- none had had IBS or any serious bowel disorder before.

Each participant completed a detailed questionnaire when their infection was confirmed that included questions about mood, perceived stress levels, perfectionism and illness beliefs and behaviors.

The participants were monitored three and six months later to see whether they had developed the typical symptoms of IBS, which include diarrhea and/or constipation, abdominal pain and bloating.

In all, 49 people had IBS, and women were more than twice as likely to have IBS as the men.

Those with IBS were significantly more likely to have reported high levels of stress, anxiety and psychosomatic symptoms than those who did not develop the condition, according to the study published in Gut.

{ My thoughts are:  We know that stress is linked to a lowered immune response, so if this is so then perhaps this means that the digestive tract has a reduced capacity to resist pathogens ~ RM }