Relationship Between Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze the relationship between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study with proportional stratified sampling was conducted in 363 patients with gad from the Mexican Institute of Social Security referred to General Hospital No. 1, in Michoacán between November 2023 and May 2024. The GAD-7 questionnaire was used to assess the severity of anxiety, and a targeted questionnaire based on Rome IV criteria was used to determine the presence of IBS. The association between anxiety severity and the presence of IBS was analyzed using the χ² Test, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: The predominant demographic variables were female sex, age 19–29 years, bachelor’s degree education, and married marital status. The overall prevalence of IBS was 51.8% (n= 188). The proportion of IBS was significantly higher in patients with severe anxiety (76.6%) compared to those with mild anxiety (14.3%). A statistically significant association was found between GAD severity and the presence of IBS (p<0.001). Conclusion: The significant association between increased GAD severity and the presence of IBS justifies systematic gastrointestinal evaluation to optimize interdisciplinary management.
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