Psihološke abnormalnosti pacijenata sa sindromom iritabilnog kolona

Abstract

Irritable colon syndrome (ICS) is diagnosed in 8 to 17% of the people in general population and is one of the most often encountered problems in gastroenterology. Between 54% to 100% of the patients with ICS have additional psychiatric disease. The aim of the Study was to determine intensity of anxiety and depression as well as the personal profile of the patient with ICS. The following methods were used in the examination: structured psychiatric interview, Hamilton's scale for assessment of anxiety, Hamilton's scale for assessment of depression, Minnesota multiphase list of personalities and Eysenck's personality questionnaire. In the group of patients with ICS, 14% have shown a high score for anxiety ranging from 15 to 21 and even 10% had depression score of over 15, which was not the case in the control group. Most of the patients with ICS have shown highly expressed neurotic disorders and the elevated score according to the scales of "neurotic triad" in the Minnesota multiphase list of personalities. The research has shown that the patients with ICS who, due to their problems, come to the gastroenterologist, show a series of emotional disorders amongst which the prevalent ones are anxiety and depression. In terms of characteristics of the patients with ICS, it was observed the prevalence of neurotic characteristics (neurotic disorders, hypochondria, hysteric and psychasthenic characteristics). The patients with ICS in pre-morbidity show the personality characteristics which determine the way they perceive and react to distress, which may lead to depression and anxiety.