title: The relationship between existence of typical symptoms and psychological factors in patients with erosive esophagitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Asian countries including Korea, the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is on the rise and its clinical impact has been emphasized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of esophagitis patients with or without symptoms, and their association with psychological factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects diagnosed as erosive esophagitis of Los Angeles-A or more in screening by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled. Questionnaires regarding GERD symptoms and Symptom Checklist-90-Revision were used to identify the presence of psychological symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between the subjects' general characteristics (gender, age, body mass index, smoking and alcohol intake) according to the existence of typical symptoms in these patients with erosive esophagitis. Patients with typical GERD symptoms were more likely to have atypical symptoms, dyspepsia and higher scores on psychological symptoms (somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness and phobic anxiety) than those without.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychological symptoms and other gastrointestinal symptoms should be considered in the patients with erosive esophagitis.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Sang Pyo
authors: SP
authors: Lee
authors: Kang Nyeong
authors: KN
authors: Lee
authors: Oh Young
authors: OY
authors: Lee
authors: Hang Lak
authors: HL
authors: Lee
authors: Ho Soon
authors: HS
authors: Choi
authors: Byung Chul
authors: BC
authors: Yoon
authors: Dae Won
authors: DW
authors: Jun
authors: Won
authors: W
authors: Sohn
authors: Seung Chul
authors: SC
authors: Cho