Defense Mechanisms in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Their Relationship with Symptom Severity and Quality of Life

Despite the fact that there is theoretical evidence about the association between unconscious defense mechanisms and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), experimental evidence in this regard is limited. The aim of the present study was to compare the defense mechanisms used by the patients with IBS and a control group, and to investigate the relationship between these mechanisms with the severity of the disease and patients’ quality of life. Fourty-five patients with IBS (mean age of 37.1 years; 14 males) and 45 controls (mean age of 38.0 years; 13 males) were evaluated. IBS diagnosis was determined based on Rome III criteria and the predominant pattern of the disease was determined based on the patient's history (13 diarrhea-predominant, 16 constipation-predominant, and 16 alternating IBS). Defense Style Questionnaire-40, IBS Severity Scale, and IBS-Quality of Life questionnaire were used. The mean scores of projection, acting-out, somatization, autistic fantasy, passive-aggression, and reaction formation in the IBS group were significantly higher than the control group and the mean scores of humor and anticipation mechanisms were higher in the control group. There was no significant correlation between the score of defense mechanisms and the severity of IBS and the patients’ quality of life. The severity of immature defenses in the IBS group was significantly higher, whereas the severity of mature defenses was higher in the control group. These defenses were not correlated with the severity of IBS. Considering the limited sample size, these relationships need to be more investigated.