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Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Causes
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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The cause of intestinal disorders in irritable bowel syndrome is unknown. The disease is considered polyetiological and, apparently, heterogeneous. The state of higher nervous activity and personality type of the patient, past episodes of sexual and physical violence (especially in women) are of great importance in its development.
Patients are characterized by hysterical, aggressive reactions, depression, obsession, cancerophobia, and hypochondriacal manifestations.
The most proven factors in the etiology of irritable bowel syndrome are the following:
- neuropsychic factors and psychoemotional stress situations;
- disruption of the usual diet;
- insufficient content of dietary fiber and plant fiber in the diet (contributes to the development of a variant of irritable bowel syndrome, manifested by constipation);
- a sedentary lifestyle, lack of proper sanitary and hygienic conditions of the toilet (contributes to the suppression of the urge to defecate and the development of constipation);
- gynecological diseases (cause reflex disturbances of the motor function of the colon);
- endocrine disorders - menopause, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, etc.;
- history of acute intestinal infections followed by dysbacteriosis.
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