Abstract
Background : There are 2 types of functional bowel disorders related to constipation in the RomeIII criteria irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and functional constipation (FC). We attempted to compare the symptoms of these 2 disorders. Method : We asked 1309 outpatients who visited our psychosomatic clinic to complete an original symptom questionnaire based on the RomeIII criteria and the self-rating depression scale (SDS) test. Among these patients, 95 had IBS-C (men, 35 ; women, 60 ; mean age, 35.1±18.7 years) and 63 had FC (men, 18; women, 45; mean age, 46.7±20.9 years). Results : The patients with FC were significantly older (p<0.05) and took laxatives more frequently (p<0.001) than those with IBS-C. Although the FC patients showed lower frequency of abdominal pain and bowel movement than the IBS-C patients (p<0.05), stool configuration was not different between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the frequency of straining, sensation of incomplete evacuation, sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage, and manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation between the FC and IBS-C patients. The purpose of consultation in IBS-C patients was abdominal symptoms itself more frequently than those in FC patients (p<0.01). SDS scores in both groups were slightly elevated, but no significant difference was observed (IBS-C, 49.7±10.8; FC, 50.8±13.7). SDS scores were significantly elevated in patients with slower 'frequency of defecation' (p<0.01) or 'lumpy or hard stool' (p<0.01) than those without. Conclusion : Although the clinical symptoms in FC patients were slightly different from those in IBS-C patients, the prevalence of symptoms that suggested evacuation disorder was similar in both groups. Severity of depression was related to abdominal symptoms rather than the difference in diagnoses.
