Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the effect of personality and psychosocial factors on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).MethodsPersonality and psychological status of 46 IBS patients and 32 healthy individuals were evaluated with Eysenck Personality Questionaire (EPQ), Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and Life Events Scale (LES).ResultsIn EPQ, E (extroversion-introversion) scores of IBS group were lower than those of control group; N (neuroticism) scores of IBS group were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.01). In SCL-90, the scores of somatization, compulsion, anxiety, depression and etc. were higher than those of control group (P<0.05). The frequency of meeting negative life events, the quantity of stimulus of meeting negative life events and the total quantity of stimulus of meeting life events of IBS patients within one year until episode were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.01).ConclusionPersonality psychological characteristics and life events before illness are associated with the morbidity of IBS.

Key words: irritable bowel syndrome, personality, psychosocial factor