Percentage of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS, n=76) and organic disease (n=100) having different characteristics at the index visit
| IBS | Organic disease | p Value | |
| Doctor's observations | |||
| Deemed polysymptomatic | 46 | 24 | <0.004 |
| Previous unexplained symptoms | 46 | 17 | <0.0001 |
| Patient's responses | |||
| Fear of serious disease | 55 | 41 | 0.084 |
| Fear of cancer | 46 | 30 | <0.04 |
| Fear of cancer removed after visit | 29 (10/35) | 41 (12/29) | NS |
| Entirely better about symptoms after visit | 26 | 49 | <0.004 |
| Stress aggravates symptoms | 59 | 42 | <0.004 |
| Symptoms for more than six months | 72 | 41 | <0.0001 |
| Days off work in previous year | 16 | 24 | NS |
| Off work for more than 10 days or disabled | 3 | 11 | <0.032-150 |
| Interference with social life | 63 | 54 | NS |
| Stopped social life | 3 | 16 | <0.007 |
↵2-150 Fisher's test.