Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional condition of the bowels which affects 10% - 15% of the global population. IBS is characterized by abdominal pain and changes in bowel movement frequency and consistency. While the cause of IBS is unknown, evidence suggests that developmental and psychological factors play a significant role. Patients who score high in Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) and Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form (ETI-SR) assessments have an increased risk of developing IBS. The purpose of this study is to compare heart rate variability (HRV) and IBS subtypes between individuals with IBS with and without a history of sexual and physical abuse. We recruited women with IBS and healthy controls using community advertisements. IBS subtypes were recorded. Participants completed measures of traumatic experience during adolescence (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) and adulthood (Lifetime Sexual and Physical Abuse Questionnaire). HRV was measured using 12 hours of Holter ECG recordings. Participants were categorized via ROME-III diagnostic criteria for IBS. ROME-III Criteria defines IBS by recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort for 3 days per month within a 12 week period, along with stool consistency patterns, the latter of which is used to define a patient's IBS subtype:  IBS-Constipation (IBS-C), IBS-Diarrhea (IBS-D),  IBS-Mixed (IBS-M), or IBS-Unclassified (IBS-U). We hypothesize that individuals with a history of abuse will have lower night heart night-time variability, as well as specific IBS subtypes. We expect that the findings from this study to broaden our understanding of how traumatic experience in childhood impacts IBS symptoms and related physiology in adulthood, as well as the causes of IBS. Findings have implications for developing trauma-informed care practices for patients with IBS, as well as trauma-exposed children at risk of developing IBS.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder that affects more than 11.2% of the global population. Anxiety, a common comorbidity, has been shown to exacerbate the progression of IBS. This relationship between anxiety and IBS is hypothesized to be connected by the gut microbiome through the gut-brain axis. The gut-brain axis is a two-way connection, in which disruption in the gut causes an imbalance in the brain and vice versa. Therefore, understanding how bacterial populations may shift among IBS patients with anxiety compared to those without anxiety could provide insight into IBS development. We have data from a cohort of patients with IBS that includes profiled bacterial populations through 16S sequencing, demographics, and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) scores for anxiety. We are identifying IBS patients with and without anxiety based on their HADS score for anxiety. We are comparing the ratio of two bacterial phyla (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) in the gut of patients with IBS without anxiety, IBS and anxiety, and healthy controls with neither IBS nor anxiety. Additionally, we are examining other factors such as race, age, and sex. We hypothesize that individuals with IBS and anxiety will have a higher ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes compared to individuals with IBS without anxiety and healthy controls. By further understanding the relationship of the gut-brain axis, we hope to introduce new research directions to improve therapeutic options for people with IBS and anxiety.