Table 1.

Personality characteristics (mean ± SD)

Personality test	Control	IBS	IBS vs control	Reference- population [18-20]
STAI X2	34.8 ± 6.1	41.3 ± 11.0	P = 0.17	35.7 ± 9.4
BDI	5.4 ± 5.3	8.7 ± 4.4	P = 0.19	6.5 ± 5.2
NEO: Neuroticism	1.7 ± 0.5	2.2 ± 0.6	P = 0.11	1.8 ± 0.7
NEO: Extroversion	2.8 ± 0.4	2.6 ± 0.3	P = 0.24	2.4 ± 0.6
NEO: Openness to experience	2.5 ± 0.5	2.4 ± 0.3	P = 0.73	2.7 ± 0.5
NEO: Agreeableness	2.4 ± 0.6	2.4 ± 0.3	P = 0.81	2.4 ± 0.5
NEO: Consciousness	3.0 ± 0.6	3.2 ± 0.5	P = 0.46	2.6 ± 0.6

STAI=State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory, with X2=Trait-Anxiety Subtest, BDI= Beck’s Depression Index, NEO= NEO-Five-Factor-Inventory