Symptoms, gastric function, and psychosocial factors in functional dyspepsia.
BACKGROUND
The classification of functional dyspepsia into meaningful subgroups remains an important goal. The aim of this investigation was to determine correlations between dyspeptic symptoms with gastric physiology and psychologic distress.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with functional dyspepsia were evaluated with electrogastrography (EGG), drink test, and solid phase gastric emptying. Subjects also completed the Nepean Dyspepsia Index, Psychologic General Well-Being Index, SCL-90R, and SF-36.


RESULTS
Eighty-one patients were evaluated. Gastric emptying was performed in 29 of 81 patients and was abnormal in 21%, but no correlation existed between symptoms and T1/2 or TLAG. EGG was abnormal in 42% and drink test was abnormal in 40% of patients. Both were significantly associated with nausea but not with other symptoms. Significant correlations existed with 10 of 15 assessed symptoms and various subscales of the SCL-90R. Somatization was associated with abdominal burning, chest pain, abdominal pressure, abdominal discomfort, bad breath, chest burning, excessive fullness, bloating, abdominal pain, and regurgitation. Anxiety was associated with abdominal burning, chest pain, abdominal pressure, and abdominal discomfort. Anger-hostility was associated with abdominal burning and abdominal pressure. Increased interpersonal sensitivity was associated with abdominal burning and chest burning. SCL-90R Global Symptom Score was associated with abdominal burning, chest pain, abdominal discomfort, and bad breath.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal gastric physiology as measured in this study was not associated with symptoms other than nausea. Significant associations existed between measures of psychiatric distress and digestive symptoms. Symptoms in functional dyspepsia had greater associations with psychologic distress than with commonly employed tests of gastric physiology.
Jones
Michael P
MP
Division of Gastroenterology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. mpjones@nmh.org
Maganti
Kalyani
K
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires