Associations between abdominal pain symptom dimensions and depression among adolescents

Background and aims The prevalence of depression is increased among patients with abdominal pain (AP) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), but little is known about this association among adolescents in the general population. Furthermore, there is considerable uncertainty about exactly which dimensions of AP and IBS are associated with depression. The aims of this study were therefore: (a) to describe the prevalence of AP, IBS and depression in a representative sample of adolescents, (b) to analyze the association of AP and IBS with depression and lastly, (c) to analyze the relationship between depression and specific AP and IBS symptom dimensions, i.e. pain intensity, frequency, duration, and distribution, the presence of co-morbid non-abdominal pain, and the specific bowel systems distinguishing IBS from AP in general. Materials and methods Self-reported symptoms of AP (monthly or more frequent), IBS (Rome III 2006 criteria), co-morbid chronic pain and depression (The Short Mood and Feeling Questionnaire sum-score ≥11) were recorded among 961 adolescents (mean age 16.1 y and 48.8% girls), participating in a population based study in 2010-2011. Multiple logistic regression carried out to analyze the association of AP and IBS with depression, adjusting for sex, parental level of education (