title: Plasma 5-hydroxytryptamine concentration and its correlation with psychopathology in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a biopsychosocial disorder. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) plays a crucial role in the control of gastrointestinal motility, sensation, and secretion. This study investigated changes in platelet-depleted plasma 5-HT and their correlation with psychopathology in IBS patients and healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study involved 21 subjects with IBS and 13 healthy subjects. Fasting and 1-hr postprandial plasma 5-HT concentrations were measured. The SCL-90R symptom checklist was used for the assessment of current psychological symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fasting and postprandial plasma 5-HT concentrations were significantly higher in IBS patients (15.11+/-13.51 ng/mL and 16.31+/-14.21 ng/mL, respectively) than in healthy subjects (5.55+/-4.14 ng/mL and 6.25+/-4.82 ng/mL, respectively; p<0.05). There were no significant changes between fasting and 1-hr postprandial 5-HT concentration in IBS subtypes and healthy subjects. Scores on all SCL-90R subscales except for the interpersonal-sensitivity subscale were significantly higher in IBS patients than in healthy subjects. No correlation was found between SCL-90R items and platelet-depleted plasma 5-HT concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  5-HT might play a critical role in IBS, and psychopathological factors are correlated with IBS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seon-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyoung-Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Sung-Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Wan-Sik
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyun-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jong-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rew