Purpose: We determined the risk of irritable bowel syndrome and depression in women with interstitial cystitis.
Materials and methods: Cases consisted of 46 women with newly diagnosed interstitial cystitis. The control group consisted of 46 women presenting for an annual gynecologic examination. Data were collected using standardized, validated questionnaires.
Results: The 2 groups were similar with respect to age, race, parity, previous pelvic surgery and postmenopausal hormone use. Compared with controls patients with interstitial cystitis were more likely to be diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (OR 11, 95% CI 2.7 to 52, p <0.001) and depression (OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.17 to 14.1, p <0.05). In the interstitial cystitis group when we compared women with and without depression, we noted that women with depression were significantly more likely to complain of bladder pain, nocturia, abdominal pain and other bowel symptoms.
Conclusions: The association of irritable bowel syndrome and depression appears to be greater in women with interstitial cystitis than in controls. Additionally, it appears that pain of bladder or bowel origin is a significant cause of depression in women with interstitial cystitis.