Chronic duodenal ulcer and depression.

The aim of the study was to determine whether duodenal ulcer is associated with depression. Forty-three patients with endoscopically proven symptomatic ulcers were compared with 43 control persons matched for age, sex, and social class. Depression was assessed by the Beck Inventory. Duodenal ulcer patients had a higher mean score than controls, and this difference was probably due to the possession of a chronic disease rather than typical duodenal ulcer. Only one patient showed moderate depression, and none were severely depressed.