Correlation between severity of depression and quality of life in irritable bowel syndrome

While irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not life-threatening for most, it has enormous influence on quality of life (QoL) and mental health.

The aim of this study was to analyse QoL in patients with IBS to identify the domains most affected by IBS.

A total of 87 patients and 56 healthy subjects were enrolled consecutively. All participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires: the 36-Item Short Form Health survey (SF-36) and the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire (BDI).

Based on the SF-36, there was no difference in QoL between the male and female groups in any of the domains. Statistically significant correlations were found between BDI scores and all domains in the SF-36 form, such as physical functioning, role fulfilment limited by physical health problems, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role fulfilment limited by emotional problems, and mental health, as well as between age and physical functioning (r = -0.302, p < 0.05) and physical health (r = -0.295, p < 0.05). Statistically significant negative correlations were also found between the duration of the disorder and general health (r = -0.290, p < 0.05), social functioning (r = -0.257, p < 0.05), and physical health (r = -0.258, p < 0.05).

IBS is connected with impaired patient QoL and high prevalence of depression, with a high correlation rate of both parameter scores. IBS symptoms may lead to low QoL in those patients, causing depression traits in some of them.