Comparing illness perceptions in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Psychology
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Illness perceptions may differ between functional and organic gastrointestinal conditions.
• Functional conditions, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), lack objective causes for symptoms, potentially leading to more adverse illness perceptions compared to organic conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare illness perceptions between patients diagnosed with IBS and IBD.
• To investigate the impact of these illness perceptions on symptom reporting and symptom-specific anxiety in both patient groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 70 IBS patients and 198 IBD patients.
• Utilized the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire to assess patient perceptions.
• Employed independent samples t-tests and regression analyses to compare groups and examine outcome effects.

Main Results:

• IBS patients reported significantly lower perceptions of personal control, treatment control, timeline, and coherence compared to IBD patients.
• IBS patients perceived greater consequences and identity related to their condition.
• Illness identity and emotional response significantly predicted symptom reporting and anxiety, with a stronger effect observed in IBS patients.

Conclusions:

• Patients with IBS exhibit more adverse illness perceptions than those with IBD.
• These perceptions more strongly correlate with symptom reporting and anxiety in IBS patients.
• Healthcare providers should consider the psychological impact of a functional diagnosis on patient perceptions and functioning.