Dyspepsia in general practice: psychological findings in relation to Helicobacter pylori serum antibodies

Questionnaire data based on traditional concepts for measuring hypochondriasis and depression were related to serological data on Helicobacter pylori antibodies in 110 of 130 consecutive patients, aged 18-65 yr, consulting for dyspeptic symptoms in general practice. Of the patients thirty-seven (33.6%) and seventy-three (66.4%) were classified as H. pylori positives and H. pylori negatives, respectively, the H. pylori positive patients being significantly older than H. pylori negative patients. Factor analyses of the questionnaire data indicated the heterogeneity of each of the traditional concepts for measuring hypochondriasis and depression but succeeded in differentiating orthogonally between two hypochondriasis factors and three depression factors. Hierarchical regression analyses of factor scores, controlling for the influence of age and sex, indicated higher H. pylori antibody activity to be associated with less hypochondriacal signs of anxiety and uneasiness. It is hypothesized, that in dyspepsia without signs of H. pylori infection, somatization may account to a substantial extent for the illness.