The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome in positive and negative subtypes of schizophrenia.

Sixty-two drug naïve hospitalized patients between 18 and 65 years (mean age: 33.6) with first episode of schizophrenia based on DSM IV-TR and 69 control subjects matched for age and sex completed this study. A semi-structured clinical interview was used to assess both groups. Clinical data were obtained and basic lab investigations and ultrasonography of abdomen were done in all subjects to exclude any related abdominal pathology. Axis-I disorders of DSM IV-TR were excluded in control subjects. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Rome III Urdu language version scale (cross-validation obtained) for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were administered to assess the severity of positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia and subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome, IBS constipation (IBS-C), IBS Diarrhoea (IBS-D) and IBS Mix (IBS-M) in case and control groups respectively.

Forty-seven patients (75.8%) and 15 patients (24.2%) had positive and negative schizophrenia respectively. Patients with positive and negative schizophrenia had higher rate of IBS-C 6.5% (n = 4), IBS-D 8.1% (n = 5), IBS-M 12.9% (n = 8), non-IBS 72.6% (n = 45) versus healthy subjects IBS-C 1.4% (n = 1), IBS-D 2.9% (n = 2), IBS-M 2.9% (n = 2), and non-IBS 92.8% (n = 64), OR = 4.8; 95% CI.

Irritable bowel syndrome is more frequent in patients with schizophrenia than in general population. This functional gastrointestinal disorder associated with psychotic symptoms requires attention and management while managing patients with subtypes of schizophrenia.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.