Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran Archives of Iranian Medicine 1029-2977 23 12 2020 12 01 Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Psychological Disorder or Poverty? Results of a Large Cross-sectional Study in Iran 821 826 10.34172/aim.2020.109 EN Saba Alvand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8149-2056 Zahra Mohammadi Laleh Rashidian Bahman Cheraghian Zahra Rahimi Leila Danehchin Yousef Paridar Farhad Abolnezhadian Mohammad Noori Seyed Ali Mard Sahar Masoudi Ali Akbar Shayesteh https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7636-1369 Hossein Poustchi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4566-3628 Journal Article 10.34172/aim.2020.109 2020 06 21 2020 07 23 Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disease with no exact laboratory or imaging findings. IBS is more common in areas with a history of psychological trauma and war. This study aims to report the prevalence and possible determinants of IBS in southwestern Iran, an area with a notable history of war. Methods: We randomly enrolled 1849 permanent residents in 29 cities aged 20 to 65 years. A validated for Farsi version Rome III criteria and a questionnaire, including demographic data and health history, were administered to each subject. Participants who fulfilled the Rome III criteria were categorized into three groups: Diarrhea dominant (IBS-D), Constipation dominant (IBS-C), and Mixed type (IBS-M). Results: The total prevalence of IBS was 3.2%, with 70% of subjects being of Arab descent (P=0.004). IBS was more common in females, singles, illiterate subjects, and people younger than 30 years; however, none of these differences were statistically significant. People with depression, anxiety, self-report of psychological disorders, and very low socioeconomic status had a significantly higher prevalence of IBS (P<0.05). After multivariable logistic regression analysis, very low socioeconomic status had an independent role in IBS predictivity (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.01–5.15). Conclusion: This study shows a higher prevalence of IBS symptoms in a population-based study in the region compared to counterparts in other regions of Iran. Considering the higher prevalence of self-reported psychological disorders, further studies are recommended to focus on the exact diagnosis of mental disorders and their influence on IBS.