Dataset Information

Indirect effect of sleep on abdominal pain through daytime dysfunction in adults with irritable bowel syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Study objectives

Sleep deficiency, psychological distress, daytime dysfunction, and abdominal pain are common in adults with irritable bowel syndrome. Prior research on individuals with chronic pain has identified the indirect effect of sleep on pain through psychological distress or daytime dysfunction; however, this effect is less clear in irritable bowel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to examine potential indirect effects of sleep on abdominal pain symptoms simultaneously through psychological distress and daytime dysfunction in adults with irritable bowel syndrome.

Methods

Daily symptoms of nighttime sleep complaints (sleep quality and refreshment), psychological distress, daytime dysfunction (fatigue, sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating), and abdominal pain were collected in baseline assessments from 2 randomized controlled trials of 332 adults (mean age 42 years and 85% female) with irritable bowel syndrome. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the global relationships among nighttime sleep complaints, psychological distress, daytime dysfunction, and abdominal pain.

Results

The structural equation modeling analyses found a strong indirect effect of poor sleep on abdominal pain via daytime dysfunction but not psychological distress. More than 95% of the total effect of nighttime sleep complaints on abdominal pain was indirect.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the primary impact of nighttime sleep complaints on abdominal pain is indirect. The indirect effect appears primarily through daytime dysfunction. Such understanding provides a potential avenue to optimize personalized and hybrid behavioral interventions for adults with irritable bowel syndrome through addressing daytime dysfunction and sleep behaviors. Additional study integrating symptoms with biological markers is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms accounting for these symptoms.

Clinical trial registration

Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov. Name: Nursing Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Improving Outcomes, Nursing Management of IBS: Improving Outcomes. URLs: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00167635, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00907790. Identifiers: NCT00167635, NCT00907790.

SUBMITTER: Yang PL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7954013 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Background & aimsWe sought to determine the efficacy of psyllium fiber treatment on abdominal pain and stool patterns in children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We evaluated effects on breath hydrogen and methane production, gut permeability, and microbiome composition. We also investigated whether psychological characteristics of children or parents affected the response to treatment.MethodsWe performed a randomized, double-blind trial of 103 children (mean age, 13 ± 3 y) with IBS seen at primary or tertiary care settings. After 2 weeks on their habitual diet, children began an 8-day diet excluding carbohydrates thought to cause symptoms of IBS. Children with ≥75% improvement in abdominal pain were excluded (n = 17). Children were assigned randomly to groups given psyllium (n = 37) or placebo (maltodextrin, n = 47) for 6 weeks. Two-week pain and stool diaries were compared at baseline and during the final 2 weeks of treatment. We assessed breath hydrogen and methane production, intestinal permeability, and the composition of the microbiome before and after administration of psyllium or placebo. Psychological characteristics of children were measured at baseline.ResultsChildren in the psyllium group had a greater reduction in the mean number of pain episodes than children in the placebo group (mean reduction of 8.2 ± 1.2 after receiving psyllium vs mean reduction of 4.1 ± 1.3 after receiving placebo; P = .03); the level of pain intensity did not differ between the groups. Psychological characteristics were not associated with response. At the end of the study period, the percentage of stools that were normal (Bristol scale scores, 3-5), breath hydrogen or methane production, intestinal permeability, and microbiome composition were similar between groups.ConclusionsPsyllium fiber reduced the number of abdominal pain episodes in children with IBS, independent of psychological factors. Psyllium did not alter breath hydrogen or methane production, gut permeability, or microbiome composition. ClinicalTrials.gov no: NCT00526903.