Fresh data on clinical trial research are presented in the report 'Significant psychological morbidity occurs in irritable bowel syndrome: a case-control study using a pharmacy reimbursement database.' According to recent research published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, "Psychological problems are associated with IBS but the strength of this association is unclear. To assess co-prescribing of antispasmodic and CNS-acting drugs through a nested case-control study."

"A national dispensing database identified patients who were first dispensed antispasmodic medicines for a continuous 3-month period or more during 2006, using 2005 as a run-in period. Each patient was matched with four control patients and excluded if they received drugs indicated for IBD. Four hundred and seven patients commenced antispasmodic drugs during 2006. These patients were matched with 1628 controls. In 2005, patients subsequently prescribed antispasmodics were 2-3 times more likely to receive CNS-acting drugs than controls. In the year following commencement of IBS therapy, patients were 2-4 times more likely than controls to be prescribed CNS-acting drugs including antidepressants (35.4% vs. 9.3%), anxiolytics (27.8% vs. 8.8%), antipsychotics (9.8% vs. 3.3%) and hypno-sedatives (32.7% vs. 11.3%; p<0.0001). The adjusted OR (95% CI) for antidepressant, anxiolytic, hypnosedative and antipsychotic prescribing in IBS patients were 3.81 (2.79-5.20), 2.84 (2.12-3.81), 2.62 (1.91-3.60) and 2.58 (1.80-3.66), respectively," wrote J.B. Canavan and colleagues, John Radcliffe Hospital (see also Clinical Trial Research).

The researchers concluded: "Patients prescribed ongoing therapy for presumed IBS are 2-4 times more likely to be prescribed CNS-acting drugs than controls, providing evidence of psychological comorbidity in IBS."

Canavan and colleagues published their study in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (Significant psychological morbidity occurs in irritable bowel syndrome: a case-control study using a pharmacy reimbursement database. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2009;29(4):440-9).

For additional information, contact J.B. Canavan, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Gastroenterology Unit, Oxford, UK.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics is: Blackwell Publishing Inc., 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148, USA.

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