Gender differences in psychological distress among patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Objective: We examined possible gender differences in psychological distress in a sample of treatment-seeking Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) patients. Methods: A total of 341 IBS patients (238 females, 83 males) were studied. Structured psychiatric interviews were available on 250 participants. Results: We found significantly higher scores for females than males on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Trait Anxiety of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Scales 2 and 3 of the MMPI. However, there were no differences in the percentages of the two samples meeting criteria for one or more Axis I psychiatric disorders, with 65.6% of the total sample meeting these criteria. Conclusion: Gender differences in psychological distress appear to be a function of method of measurement.