The Association between Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Anxiety Vulnerability Factors: Body Vigilance and Discomfort Intolerance

Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) endorse greater negative affect, including anxiety psychopathology. To examine the role anxiety plays in the maintenance and exacerbation of IBS the links between IBS and two anxiety related constructs, body vigilance and discomfort intolerance, were examined. A non-treatment seeking college sample (N = 476) completed measures that assessed IBS symptomatology, vigilance to bodily sensations and ability to tolerate physical discomfort. A total of 4.2 percent of the sample met Rome II criteria for IBS. Consistent with the hypotheses, IBS symptoms were associated with increased vigilance to bodily sensations and increased desire to avoid these sensations.