Effect of fluoxetine on symptoms and gastric dysrhythmia in patients with functional dyspepsia.
OBJECTIVE
Although antidepressants have been used for decades in treating patients with functional abdominal syndromes, how they influence gastrointestinal motility remains unclear. We aimed to assess the role of depression in functional dyspepsia, and the effect of antidepressants on the functional dyspepsia patients' symptoms and gastric myoelectrical activity.


METHODS
We conducted an open clinical trial with 40 functional dyspepsia patients. Zung self-rating depression scale was used in evaluating the patients' depression. Cutaneous electrogastrography and evaluation of upper gastrointestinal symptoms were performed before and after administration of a one-month course of fluoxetine.


RESULTS
In the baseline study, the depressed functional dyspepsia patients had higher symptom scores than non-depressed patients (P < 0.05). The depressed functional dyspepsia patients had higher percentages of tachygastria than healthy controls (P < 0.05), but the electrogastrography parameters of depressed and non-depressed functional dyspepsia patients were not different. After one-month fluoxetine treatment, the symptom scores improved significantly in the depressed functional dyspepsia patients (P < 0.05), but not in the non-depressed patients. Electrogastrography did not improve in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive functional dyspepsia patients had higher symptom scores and responded well to fluoxetine treatment. However, electrogastrography did not improve after the treatment. These findings suggest that depression is significant in the presentation of functional dyspepsia symptoms, but not correlated with gastric myoelectrical activity.
Wu
Chun-Ying
CY
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, 160 Section 3, Taichung-Kang Road, Taichung, 407, Taiwan. chun@vghtc.vghtc.gov.tw
Chou
Lin-Tai
LT
Chen
Hsiao-Ping
HP
Chang
Chi-Sen
CS
Wong
Pei-Guan
PG
Chen
Gran-Hum
GH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors