M.A. / Irritable bowel syndrome has the dubious honour of being one of the most widely researched, yet poorly understood gastrointestinal disorders. Vast amounts of research have been conducted into every facet of this disorder, yet the investigations yield results that are often contradictory and more conducive to complication than clarification. In light of the quote above, it becomes apparent that research into IBS has fulfilled the requirements for 'serious research', leaving medical practitioners and researchers with more questions than answers. Irritable bowel syndrome is a bowel disorder characterised by abdominal pain and either diarrhoea or constipation (Bennett, 1989). It is estimated to affect 8 to 15% of the population, and accounts for between 50% and 70% of referrals to gastroenterology clinics (Whitehead & Schuster, 1985). Such a common disorder should be well understood but it is not. In fact, there is little consensus amongst clinicians and researchers concerning the underlying cause of this syndrome. Organic causes which have been suggested include abnormal motor activity of the intestinal tract (Snape et al., 1976), abnormal gut hormone secretion and sensitivity (Ritchie, 1973, in Lynn & Friedman, 1993) and diet (Jones et al., 1982, in Corney et al., 1991). Many studies have also indicated that psychological factors are important and that patients with this syndrome are more neurotic, depressed or anxious than others (Hislop, 1971; Young et al., 1976). Research findings have tended to be contradictory, yet one common thread throughout the literature has been the role that stress seems to play in both the onset and maintenance of IBS. A number of studies have been conducted in this area, yet once again the findings have been contradictory and little clarity has been achieved. It is against this background that the aims of the present study can be described. The aims of the present study are twofold. The first, and most specific aim is to clarify the relationship between psychological stress and IBS. In particular, the present investigation will explore the differences in daily and occupational stress between healthy individuals and those suffering from IBS. The second aim of this research more general, and concerns theory building. This is particularly important in a field where there has been so much ambiguity and confusion.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:10337 |
| Date | 13 September 2012 |
| Creators | Bayne, Barbara S. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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