CHARACTERIZATION OF PATIENTS TREATED AT A UNIVERSITY OUTPATIENT CLINIC WITH FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA AND ITS CORRELATION WITH MENTAL DISORDERS

Functional dyspepsia is a common gastrointestinal disorder in clinical practice, characterized by chronic dyspeptic symptoms in the absence of identifiable organic disease, and is currently classified as a disorder of gut-brain interaction. Evidence suggests a significant association between functional dyspepsia and mental disorders, particularly anxiety and depression; however, this relationship remains insufficiently explored in national studies.

To characterize the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients treated at a university outpatient gastrointestinal care clinic with functional dyspepsia and to analyze its correlation with mental disorders.

This was a cross-sectional observational study based on the analysis of medical records of patients diagnosed with functional dyspepsia according to the Rome IV criteria, treated at a university outpatient clinic in the southeast of Brazil. Sociodemographic data, lifestyle habits, clinical comorbidities, presence of concomitant mental disorders, and information on clinical evolution were collected. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate associations between functional dyspepsia, mental disorders and clinical variables.

The sample consisted of 135 patients, predominantly women, with a higher prevalence of patients over 60 years of age. Most individuals were sedentary, non-smokers, and non-alcohol users, with systemic arterial hypertension being the most frequent clinical comorbidity. Mental disorders were present in nearly half of the patients, with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder being the most prevalent diagnoses, either isolated or in combination. No statistically significant associations were observed between mental disorders and most sociodemographic or clinical variables, except for obesity. During outpatient follow-up, a substantial proportion of patients with functional dyspepsia and concomitant mental disorders showed partial or complete improvement of dyspeptic symptoms.

The findings demonstrate a high frequency of mental disorders among patients with functional dyspepsia treated at a university outpatient clinic, reinforcing the multifactorial nature of this condition. The observed association and the clinical improvement identified in a subset of patients undergoing multidisciplinary follow-up highlight the importance of integrating gastroenterology and mental health care in the management of functional dyspepsia, contributing to a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary care of the patient.