A Case-control Study of Childhood and Adult Trauma in the Development of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Abstract

Purpose: Childhood physical or sexual abuse and parental deprivation have been implicated in adult IBS development. However, data regarding other forms of trauma are lacking, particularly in families. Specific aims: 1. To determine whether childhood and/or adult trauma is associated with adult IBS. 2. To identify characteristics of the trauma that are associated with IBS. Methods: Previous participants of a large family case-control study (DK66271) were re-contacted and mailed the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report (ETISR) with 27 types of trauma. 4520 subjects (595 cases, 584 controls, 3338 relatives) were contacted. Overall trauma scores (OT) and subscale-General Trauma (GT), Physical Abuse (PA), Emotional Abuse (EA), Sexual Abuse (SA) scores were compared between cases and controls, case- and control-relatives using logistic regression adjusting for age and gender. Results: 2625 (58%) agreed to participate: 430 cases, 447 controls, 827 caserelatives, 921 control-relatives. Cases reported more traumas over a lifetime than controls [median 7.0 traumas (3.0 GT, 1.0 PA, 1.0 EA, 0 SA) v. 4.0 (3.0 GT, 0 PA, 0 EA, 0 SA), p<0.01]. Traumas were equally common before age 18 as well as experienced after age 18. Cases were more likely to report all forms of trauma except experiencing a death of a friend, observing a murder, being burned, and specific sexual encounters. In contrast, trauma scores were generally similar between case-relatives and control relatives (OT score before 18: 3.0 v. 3.0, p=0.17; OT score after 18: 3.0 v. 3.0, p-0.13). However, case-relatives with IBS had higher trauma scores than unaffected case-relatives and controlrelatives (p<0.05) except for SA. Conclusion: Childhood and adult traumas are more common among adults with IBS, but to a lesser degree among affected and unaffected case-relatives. General traumas were more commonly reported than physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. The above confirms that psychological and physical stressors experienced over a lifetime may contribute to adult IBS.