To study the association between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) variants (constipation, diarrhea or both) with personality traits in non-psychiatric patients.

IBS was diagnosed using the Rome II diagnostic criteria after exclusion of organic bowel pathology. The entry of each patient was confirmed following a psychiatric interview. Personality traits and score of each factor was evaluated using NEO five factor personality inventory.

One hundred and fifty patients were studied. The mean age (±SD) was 33.4(±11.0) years (62% female). They scored higher in Neuroticism, Openness and Conscientiousness compared to our general population. Our studied population consisted of 71 patients with D-IBS, 33 with C-IBS and 46 with A-IBS. Score of conscientiousness and Neuroticism was significantly higher in C-IBS compared to D-IBS and A-IBS. Conscientiousness was the higher dimension of personality in each of variants. Patients with C-IBS had almost similar personality profile, composed of higher scores of Neuroticism and Conscientiousness, a low level of Agreeableness with Openness and Extraversion close to general population.

Differences were observed between IBS patients and general population as well as between IBS subtypes in term of personality factors. Patients with constipation predominant IBS showed a similar personality profile. Patients with each subtype of IBS may benefit from psychological interventions, which can be more practical considering characteristics of each subtype.