Table 1.

Psychological and social factors in irritable bowel syndrome

Environmental factors

Early life events

Upbringing environment

Incentives

Family function

Abuse history

Psychosocial stressors

Life events (divorce, unemployment, death of a close relative)

Daily hassles

Personality traits

Neuroticism, agreeableness, conscientiousness

Alexithymia

Health beliefs

Hypochondriacal beliefs

Illness representation

Perceived susceptibility

Coping strategies

Maladaptive coping (catastrophyzing, self-blame, substance abuse)

Negative emotions and psychiatric disorders

Mood disorders (major depression and dysthymic disorder)

Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder)

Somatization and somatoform disorders

Neurasthenia