The relation between anxiety and functional constipation: A multicenter study in Iranian medical interns

Background: Functional constipation and its-related predisposing factors are so frequent among medical staff. The aim of study: To determine the prevalence of functional constipation and its relation to psychological disorders among Iranian medical interns. Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study was performed on 369 medical interns working at 5 main educational hospitals affiliated by universities of medical sciences in Iran during 2016-2017. The questionnaires related to the ROME criteria definitive for functional constipation were raised to confirm or reject definitive diagnosis of disease. To assess depression, anxiety and stress status of the participants, it was used the Persian version of the DASS-21 questionnaire that was previously validated by the Iranian researchers. Results: Overall, the prevalence of functional constipation in medical interns was 26.3%; and was more frequent in female gender (p=0.043). It was not related to depression in cases (p=0.1) or baseline parameters (marital status, body mass index, severity of depression, or degree of stress status). But was related to severity of anxiety (p=0.004) and irregular eating breakfast (p=0.041); deliberately ignoring defecation (p=0.010). Conclusion: It can be concluded high prevalence of functional constipation in medical interns especially in female gender, cases with low rate of eating breakfast, and deliberately ignoring defecation all might indicate the major role for anxiety in functional constipation in Iranian medical interns. Thus, the psychologic consults programs for modifying the anxiety in cases with functional constipation might be helpful.