Personality traits and impaired health-related quality of life in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders

The relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms in FGID patients and D-type personality and emotion regulation strategies

This study examines the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) and type D personality traits, as well as emotion regulation strategies. Analyzing a diverse group of FGID patients, we uncover significant effects of gender and age on gastrointestinal symptoms. Negative Affectivity emerges as a key predictor, positively associated with symptom severity, whereas Social Inhibition correlates negatively with Abdominal Pain. Additionally, our findings suggest that the expressive suppression strategy predicts heightened gastrointestinal symptoms, whereas cognitive reappraisal predicts lower levels of certain symptoms. These findings provide valuable insights for precise diagnosis and tailored treatments of FGIDs. Further research is warranted to explore underlying mechanisms and inform evidence-based interventions.

Gastrointestinal symptom improvement from fiber, STW 5, peppermint oil, and probiotics use-Results from an online survey

OBJECTIVES

Several common supplements are used by a significant number of patients affected by gastrointestinal (GI) disorders to improve symptoms and quality of life. We investigated the impact of GI symptom improvement with the use of fiber, STW 5, probiotics, and peppermint oil in relation to overall GI pain and quality of life via an online survey.

DESIGN

We used a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlation design. A Qualtrics online survey was utilized to collect data from January to June 2013 through various websites. Areas evaluated included participant demographics, use of supplements, and gastrointestinal symptom severity.

RESULTS

The rate of supplement use among patients with GI disorders was high (90% in past year) and consultation with healthcare providers was reported by 80%. Participants who completed the survey (n = 68) reported a strong correlation between GI symptom severity and overall quality of life (r² = 0.8682, p < 0.001). The use of fiber improved GI symptom severity while both STW 5 and probiotics were linked to specific improvements.

CONCLUSIONS

Persons with chronic GI disorders often choose the complementary use of common supplements to mitigate GI symptoms and consult with their healthcare providers frequently. The use of STW 5 and probiotics specifically is linked to overall reduction in GI symptoms and improvement of quality of life.

Anxious, introverted personality traits in patients with chronic subjective dizziness

OBJECTIVES

Chronic subjective dizziness (CSD) is a neurotologic disorder of persistent non-vertiginous dizziness, unsteadiness, and hypersensitivity to one's own motion or exposure to complex visual stimuli. CSD usually follows acute attacks of vertigo or dizziness and is thought to arise from patients' failure to re-establish normal locomotor control strategies after resolution of acute vestibular symptoms. Pre-existing anxiety or anxiety diathesis may be risk factors for CSD. This study tested the hypothesis that patients with CSD are more likely than individuals with other chronic neurotologic illnesses to possess anxious, introverted personality traits.

METHODS

Data were abstracted retrospectively from medical records of 40 patients who underwent multidisciplinary neurotology evaluations for chronic dizziness. Twenty-four subjects had CSD. Sixteen had chronic medical conditions other than CSD plus co-existing anxiety disorders. Group differences in demographics, Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores, DSM-IV diagnoses, personality traits measured with the NEO Personality Inventory - Revised (NEO-PI-R), and temperaments composed of NEO-PI-R facets were examined.

RESULTS

There were no differences between groups in demographics, mean DHI or HADS-anxiety scores, or DSM-IV diagnoses. The CSD group had higher mean HADS-depression and NEO-PI-R trait anxiety, but lower NEO-PI-R extraversion, warmth, positive emotions, openness to feelings, and trust (all p<0.05). CSD subjects were significantly more likely than comparison subjects to have a composite temperament of high trait anxiety plus low warmth or excitement seeking.

CONCLUSION

An anxious, introverted temperament is strongly associated with CSD and may be a risk factor for developing this syndrome.

A global perspective on irritable bowel syndrome: a consensus statement of the World Gastroenterology Organisation Summit Task Force on irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is common in western Europe and North America, and many aspects of its epidemiology, risk factors, and natural history have been described in these regions. Recent data suggest, however, that IBS is also common in the rest of the world and there has been some evidence to suggest some differences in demographics and presenting features between IBS in the west and as it is experienced elsewhere. The World Gastroenterology Organization, therefore, established a Task Force comprising experts on the topic from all parts of the world to examine IBS from a global perspective. IBS does, indeed, seem to be common worldwide though with some significant variations in prevalence rates between regions and countries and there may well be some potentially interesting variations in presenting symptoms and sex distribution. The global map of IBS is far from complete; community-based prevalence data is not available from many areas. Furthermore, while some general trends are evident in terms of IBS impact and demographics, international comparisons are hampered by differences in diagnostic criteria, study location and methodology; several important unanswered questions have been identified that should form the basis for future collaborative research and have the potential to shed light on this challenging disorder.

Comparing outcome criteria performance in adult strabismus surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the performance of motor, diplopia, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) criteria when analyzing outcomes of adult strabismus surgery.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

We studied 159 adults undergoing 171 strabismus surgeries.

METHODS

All patients underwent clinical assessment preoperatively and 6 weeks postoperatively, including completion of Adult Strabismus-20 HRQOL questionnaires. Preoperatively, strabismus was classified as either diplopic (n = 117), nondiplopic (n = 38), or atypical diplopic (n = 16). To assess performance of motor, diplopia, and HRQOL criteria, success was defined a priori and applied separately and in combinations. For success: (1) motor criteria, <10 prism diopters by simultaneous prism cover test; (2) diplopia criteria, none or only rare in primary distance and for reading; (3) HRQOL criteria, exceeding previously reported 95% limits of agreement (LOA).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Surgical success rate when applying motor, diplopia, and HRQOL criteria alone and in combinations.

RESULTS

Overall, success rates were 90% for motor criteria, 74% for diplopia criteria, and 60% for HRQOL criteria. Combining criteria, the highest success rate was for motor plus diplopia criteria (67%) and the lowest success rate was when combining motor, diplopia, and HRQOL criteria (50%).

CONCLUSIONS

Applying motor criteria alone yields the highest success rates when evaluating outcomes in adult strabismus surgery, but motor criteria do not fully represent the patient's postoperative status. Combining diplopia criteria with motor criteria provides a more clinically relevant standard for judging the success of adult strabismus surgery. For HRQOL criteria, exceeding 95% LOA at 6 weeks postoperatively seems to be a difficult hurdle to clear for some individual patients, and evaluating change in HRQOL score may be more useful in cohort studies.