Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42393543›Full record

Observational studyBMC gastroenterology2026

Associations between childhood behavior and current cognitive and emotional function in adults with irritable bowel syndrome-a cross sectional retrospective study.

Julie Billing, Daniela M Pfabigan, Elisabeth K Steinsvik, Gülen A Lied, Birgitte Berentsen, Astri J Lundervold

Registry-linked trialAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC gastroenterology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04296552 (Study Protocol of the Bergen Brain-gut-microbiota-axis Study), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04296552 naunknown statusnot on this map

Study Protocol of the Bergen Brain-gut-microbiota-axis Study: a Prospective Case-report Characterization and Dietary Intervention Study to Evaluate the Effects of Microbiota Alterations on Cognition and Anatomical and Functional Brain Connectivity in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

TypeinterventionalSponsorHaukeland University HospitalRan2019 to 2023Enrolled200ConditionsIrritable Bowel Syndrome, Functional Gastrointestinal DisordersArmsDietary lowFODMAP intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Julie BillingDepartment of Clinical and Biological Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. julie.billing@uib.no.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6614-585X
Daniela M PfabiganDepartment of Clinical and Biological Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Elisabeth K SteinsvikDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Gülen A LiedDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Birgitte BerentsenDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Astri J LundervoldDepartment of Clinical and Biological Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChildhood behavior may influence emotional regulation and cognitive processing capacities in adulthood. Associations between childhood behavior and present emotional and cognitive functions in adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are not yet established.

objectiveTo explore relationships between retrospectively reported childhood behavior and current emotional and cognitive function in adults with IBS vs healthy controls (HCs).

methodsAdults with IBS (n = 57) and HCs (n = 38) completed the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) to assess childhood behavior. Emotional functioning was assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and cognitive functioning with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). WURS responses were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) to identify underlying factors, which were then examined for associations with current emotional and cognitive functioning.

resultsThe WURS PCA yielded four factors: (1) Behavioral Self-Regulation and Social Functioning (2) Emotional Reactivity and Temperament, (3) Psychological Vulnerability and Distress, and (4) Academic/Cognitive Challenges. IBS patients scored significantly higher than healthy controls on Factors 3 and 4. Significant correlations were found between Factor 3 and HADS in the HC group, and between Factor 4 and RBANS in the IBS group.

conclusionsThis study demonstrates that IBS patients report more childhood psychological vulnerability and academic/cognitive challenges than controls, and that these retrospectively reported behaviors show distinct associations with adult cognitive functioning. The findings suggest that developmental trajectories, such as neurocognitive traits and early stress-related mechanisms, contribute to the heterogeneity of IBS.

trial registrationThe project is registered at www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov (#NCT04296552), first submitted 2020.03.04.

Indexed as

Child BehaviorCognitionEmotionsIrritable Bowel SyndromeAdultCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsRetrospective StudiesTemperamentAnxietyChildhood behaviorCognitionDepressionIrritable bowel syndrome

Identifiers

PMID42393543
PMCPMC13483753

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.