BACKGROUND: Psychological factors play a role in a variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, including esophageal diseases. The role of psychological factors in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine if psychological distress is present in patients with reflux disease. METHODS: We performed psychological assessments in 51 patients with documented gastroesophageal reflux disease and in 43 age-matched controls using a battery of instruments. RESULTS: Patients with reflux differed from controls on scales of depression, somatization, anxiety, and intensity of reporting symptom distress. However, a secondary analysis revealed that it was a subset of reflux patients (30%) that accounted for the differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that although most patients with GERD are psychologically similar to patients without GERD, a subset of psychologically distressed patients are more likely to be found among patients with GERD. They suffer from general psychological distress rather than a specific psychiatric disorder. This psychological factor could affect the clinical manifestations of reflux disease in these individuals. Recognition and management of psychological distress in this subgroup may aid in the management of reflux disease.
BACKGROUND: Psychological factors play a role in a variety of gastrointestinal illnesses, including esophageal diseases. The role of psychological factors in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine if psychological distress is present in patients with reflux disease. METHODS: We performed psychological assessments in 51 patients with documented gastroesophageal reflux disease and in 43 age-matched controls using a battery of instruments. RESULTS:Patients with reflux differed from controls on scales of depression, somatization, anxiety, and intensity of reporting symptom distress. However, a secondary analysis revealed that it was a subset of reflux patients (30%) that accounted for the differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that although most patients with GERD are psychologically similar to patients without GERD, a subset of psychologically distressed patients are more likely to be found among patients with GERD. They suffer from general psychological distress rather than a specific psychiatric disorder. This psychological factor could affect the clinical manifestations of reflux disease in these individuals. Recognition and management of psychological distress in this subgroup may aid in the management of reflux disease.
Authors: Rafael Melillo Laurino Neto; Fernando A M Herbella; Andre Zugman; Vic Velanovich; Beth Montera; Francisco Schlottmann; Marco G Patti Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2019-02-27 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: S Y Cho; R S Choung; Y A Saito; C D Schleck; A R Zinsmeister; G R Locke; N J Talley Journal: Neurogastroenterol Motil Date: 2014-11-06 Impact factor: 3.598
Authors: Erica Cohen; Roger Bolus; Dinesh Khanna; Ron D Hays; Lin Chang; Gil Y Melmed; Puja Khanna; Brennan Spiegel Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2014-05-09 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Sang Pyo Lee; Kang Nyeong Lee; Oh Young Lee; Hang Lak Lee; Ho Soon Choi; Byung Chul Yoon; Dae Won Jun; Won Sohn; Seung Chul Cho Journal: J Neurogastroenterol Motil Date: 2012-07-10 Impact factor: 4.924