Gastrointestinal Tract - Original Article
Vol. 32 No. 10 (2021): Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
The Impact of Diagnostic Status on Quality of Life in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: The aim of the study was to examine the impact of diagnostic status (i.e., having a clinical diagnosis of irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS) or being symptomatic but undiagnosed on quality of life (QoL)). We also examined whether the relationships between
QoL and variables such as symptom frequency, pain catastrophizing, visceral sensitivity, and psychological distress are moderated by
diagnostic status.
Methods: The online sample comprised 404 participants (Mage = 33.59, SD = 12.43), of which 98 had been diagnosed with IBS and
306 were symptomatic but undiagnosed.
Results: The findings suggest that even after adjusting for symptom frequency, those diagnosed with IBS experience poorer QoL, relative
to those without a diagnosis. Moreover, there was evidence that the relationship between specific QoL domains (namely, sex, food
avoidance, and health worry) and psychological variables (namely, pain catastrophizing, and depression) was moderated by diagnostic
status.
Conclusion: The results indicate that diagnostic status in relation to IBS has psychological implications for QoL outcomes distinct
from symptom frequency, age, and gender. This highlights a substantial gap in our current understanding of how a diagnosis of IBS can
impact the lives of those suffering from IBS symptomology and calls into question the intended purpose of diagnosis.
syndrome (IBS) or being symptomatic but undiagnosed on quality of life (QoL)). We also examined whether the relationships between
QoL and variables such as symptom frequency, pain catastrophizing, visceral sensitivity, and psychological distress are moderated by
diagnostic status.
Methods: The online sample comprised 404 participants (Mage = 33.59, SD = 12.43), of which 98 had been diagnosed with IBS and
306 were symptomatic but undiagnosed.
Results: The findings suggest that even after adjusting for symptom frequency, those diagnosed with IBS experience poorer QoL, relative
to those without a diagnosis. Moreover, there was evidence that the relationship between specific QoL domains (namely, sex, food
avoidance, and health worry) and psychological variables (namely, pain catastrophizing, and depression) was moderated by diagnostic
status.
Conclusion: The results indicate that diagnostic status in relation to IBS has psychological implications for QoL outcomes distinct
from symptom frequency, age, and gender. This highlights a substantial gap in our current understanding of how a diagnosis of IBS can
impact the lives of those suffering from IBS symptomology and calls into question the intended purpose of diagnosis.