Which condition is characterized by increased levels of anxiety and a lack of relief when passing stool?

The condition characterized by increased levels of anxiety and a lack of relief when passing stool is tenesmus. Tenesmus refers to the sensation of an incomplete bowel evacuation or the persistent feeling of needing to pass stools, even when the bowels are empty. This feeling can lead to significant discomfort and anxiety because the individual feels an urgent need to relieve themselves but is unable to do so satisfactorily.

In the context of tenesmus, patients often describe their experience as distressing, as they might strain to have a bowel movement without achieving relief. This can result in chronic discomfort and contribute to elevated anxiety levels regarding bowel habits and the inability to achieve normal elimination.

In contrast, diarrhea generally involves frequent, loose bowel movements, which do not correspond to the intense feeling of incomplete evacuation that characterizes tenesmus. Constipation presents with infrequent bowel movements, but it does not usually entail the same urgency or anxiety regarding the feeling of needing to pass stools. While irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause a variety of symptoms including both diarrhea and constipation, tenesmus specifically captures that distinctive, unresolved feeling of needing to evacuate the bowels that may exacerbate anxiety.