Abstract
Thirty subjects of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and 30 normal controls were-compared. IBS patients showed significantly higher alexithymia score, depression, neuroticism and stress scores. When alexithymia was taken as independent variable it was found to correlate positively with depression and neuroticism. No correlation between stress score and alexithymia was found.
Keywords: Irritable bowel syndrome, alexithymia, stressful life events, depression, neuroticism
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