Introduction: Functional diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are a common diagnosis, with the most common manifestations being functional dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The pathophysiological mechanisms and etiology of this group of diseases are not fully understood, but stress is believed to play a key role.
Aim: The aim of this study is to clarify the relationship between the severity of stress in patients with IBS and the effectiveness of diet therapy.
Materials and Methods: Patients who meet the ROME IV criteria were included in the study. Questionnaires were used to assess stress levels (PSS-4), anxiety (GAD-7), severity of IBS (IBS Severity Score), and quality of life. The questionnaires were completed three times: at the beginning of the study, immediately after the end of the 4-week diet, and one month after the end of the diet therapy.
Results: Stress levels showed no statistically significant effect on the effect of diet therapy on IBS improvement. Only anxiety (GAD7) showed a significant effect on the improvement of IBS with the introduction of a low-histamine diet.
Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with IBS often have elevated levels of stress and anxiety. The treatment of these patients should be comprehensive. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of stress and anxiety in relation to the effectiveness of the applied dietary therapy.
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