Family history of mental illness or alcohol abuse and the irritable bowel syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We have observed that many patients with IBS drink very little alcohol and postulated that this may reflect membership in families affected by alcoholism and mental illness. We aimed to evaluate whether a family history of substance or alcohol abuse, or psychiatric illness, is associated with IBS.

Methods

A valid GI questionnaire was mailed to a randomly selected population-based cohort to identify IBS and healthy controls. The electronic medical record was reviewed to record the subjects' self-reported personal and family health histories.

Results

A total of 2300 subjects responded (response rate 55%; IBS 13%, n=287); 230 subjects with IBS and 318 controls were eligible. Family history of alcohol/substance abuse was reported by 33% of cases and 25% of contr

SUBMITTER: Knight JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4505618 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature