Investigation of Pathological Worry and Metacognitive Beliefs in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disease that affects approximately 20% of population. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is significantly associated with psychiatric symptoms. In the present study, we aimed to compare pathological worry and metacognitive beliefs between patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and healthy controls.

Methods: Sixty-three patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and age-sex matched 55 healthy subjects were included to the study. Irritable Bowel Syndrome and healthy control group were compared in terms of pathological worry via Penn State Worry Questionnaire and metacognitive beliefs via Metacognition Questionnaire 30.

Results: Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome scored significantly higher on Penn State Worry Questionnaire compared with healthy controls (t=2.69, p=0.008). The subscore of positive beliefs about worry was significantly higher in Irritable Bowel Syndrome group (t=2.16, p=0.03). The total score of Metacognition Questionnaire-30 and other subscores were found to be similar between groups.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome tend to have psychiatric disorders and patients may benefit from mindfulness therapies. Further and follow up studies are needed to highlight this issue.