Related Experiment Videos
Psychosocial factors are linked to functional gastrointestinal disorders: a population based nested case-control
G Richard Locke1, Amy L Weaver, L Joseph Melton
1Division of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|March 30, 2004
Summary
Psychosocial factors like stress are linked to functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, challenging the idea that distress only increases healthcare use. This population study found a significant association.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Volunteer studies suggest psychological distress is similar in functional GI disorders and the general population.
- Increased distress in outpatients with GI issues is often attributed to healthcare-seeking behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between psychological distress, life event stress, social support, and functional GI disorders in a population-based sample.
- To challenge the prevailing notion that psychosocial factors primarily influence healthcare utilization rather than disease pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- A nested case-control study was conducted using a random sample from Olmsted County, Minnesota (aged 20-50).
- Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing psychological distress (SCL-90-R), life event stress, social support, and GI symptoms.
- Cases had symptoms of nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); controls had no GI symptoms.
Main Results:
- Functional GI disorders were associated with higher scores on most psychological distress scales (SCL-90-R) and increased negative life event stress.
- Somatization, interpersonal sensitivity, and total life event stress were independently associated with functional GI disorders in a logistic regression model.
- Similar associations were found when analyzing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Nonulcer Dyspepsia (NUD) separately.
Conclusions:
- Psychosocial factors, including psychological distress and life event stress, are significantly associated with functional GI disorders in a community sample.
- These findings suggest that psychosocial factors may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of functional GI disorders.
- This contradicts the traditional view that such factors primarily drive healthcare-seeking behavior.