J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2006 Mar;45(2):136-144.

The Properties of Temperament, Character and Stress Response in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Choi YR
• Lee SI
• Shin CJ
• Son JW
• Kim SK
• Han BJ
• Youn SJ
• Park SM
• Ham BJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to assess the specific properties of temperament, character and stress response in patients with irritable bowel syndrome compared to those with peptic ulcer disease and healthy controls.
METHODS
We studied nineteen subjects with irritable bowel syndrome, twenty-six subjects with peptic ulcer disease and thirty-three healthy control subjects. All subjects completed Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Stress Response Inventory (SRI) and questionnaire of demographic characteristics and several variables.
RESULTS
From the results of the TCI's, the scores of harm avoidance (HA1, HA2, HA3, HA4, HA total) were significantly higher in the irritable bowel syndrome group than those of the peptic ulcer disease group or the healthy control group. In contrast, the scores of self directedness (SD3) were lower in the irritable bowel syndrome group than the healthy control group. From the results of the SRI's, somatization, anger, fatigue and frustration were significantly higher in the irritable bowel syndrome group. No significant difference was found in TCI and SRI results between the peptic ulcer disease group and the healthy control group.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that patients with irritable bowel syndrome show specific properties of temperament, character and stress response compared with either peptic ulcer disease patients or healthy controls.

Keyword

Irritable bowel syndrome; Peptic ulcer disease; Temperament; Character; Stress response; Harm avoidance

MeSH Terms

Anger
Fatigue
Frustration
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome*
Peptic Ulcer
Surveys and Questionnaires
Temperament*