Evaluation of Treatment-Seeking Behavior among the Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Their Psychological Profile

Rome III Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) Treatment-seeking behavior Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Authors

  • Maryam Babaeian Resident, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  • Hamid Afshar Associate Professor, Psychosomatic Research Center AND Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Hamed Daghaghzadeh Associate Professor, Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center AND Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  • Awat Feizi Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  • Ali Mohammad Sabzghabaee Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Isfahan Clinical Toxicology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  • Hamidreza Roohafza Assistant Professor, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  • Peyman Adibi Professor, Integrative Functional Gastroenterology Research Center AND Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  • Victoria Omranifard
    mbmed80@yahoo.com
    Associate Professor, Psychosomatic Research Center AND Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
Vol 3, No 2 (2016)
Quantitative Study(ies)
October 30, 2016
December 13, 2016

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Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder associated with adverse mental status, impaired health-related quality of life (QOL), and high medical expenses. So, the impact of psychological factors on treatment-seeking behaviors in patients with IBS is not clearly defined. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential relationship between psychological factors and treatment-seeking behavior in patients with IBS.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was a part of the SEPAHAN research project and was conducted on 4763 non-academic staff of 50 different academic centers in Isfahan Province, Iran. From among the study population, 1024 individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were evaluated. This process was repeated 15 days and a week before the distribution of the questionnaires. The demographic questionnaire, Rome III questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), and treatment-seeking behavior checklist were completed for each participant and the results were compared between participants with and without IBS.

Results: The participants with and without IBS were significantly different in terms of frequency of insurance coverage, visiting the doctor [general physician (GP) or specialist], leaving work because of somatic problems, leaving work because of gastrointestinal (GI) problems, visiting the GP, visiting the GP because of GI problems, visiting a specialist because of GI problems, and using medications (P < 0.001). Prescription of imaging and visiting a specialist were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.014).

Conclusion: It was found that treatment-seeking behavior had a relation with socioeconomic status and comorbid psychiatric disorders. Moreover, patients with IBS who presented more treatment-seeking behavior experienced more anxiety and depression.

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