title: Dyspepsia and constipation in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
abstract: Constipation and dyspepsia are disturbing gastrointestinal symptoms that are often ignored in research on physical comorbidities of schizophrenia. The aim was to assess dyspepsia and constipation in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum psychoses. A general practitioner performed a thorough physical health check for 275 outpatients and diagnosed constipation and dyspepsia. This study assessed the possible contribution of several sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables to constipation and dyspepsia using logistic regression analysis. This study also assessed whether these symptoms were associated with abnormal laboratory findings. The prevalence of constipation was 31.3%, and of dyspepsia 23.6%. Paracetamol (OR =3.07, 95% CI =1.34-7.02) and clozapine use (OR =5.48, 95% CI =2.75-10.90), older age (OR =1.04, 95% CI =1.01-1.06), and living in sheltered housing (OR =2.49, 95% CI =1.16-5.33) were risk factors for constipation. For dyspepsia the risk factors were female sex (OR =2.10, 95% CI =1.15-3.83), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR =2.47, 95% CI =1.13-5.39), and diabetes medication (OR =2.42, 95% CI =1.12-5.25). Patients with dyspepsia had lower haemoglobin and haematocrit and higher glucose values than those without dyspepsia. Patients with constipation had lower thrombocyte values than patients without constipation. However, these findings were explained by factors pre-disposing to constipation and dyspepsia. Clozapine use markedly increases the risk of constipation and may lead to life-threatening complications. In addition, analgesics and diabetes medication were related to gastrointestinal symptoms. These medications and their association to gastrointestinal symptoms should be kept in mind when treating patients with schizophrenia.
authors: a Mental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare , Helsinki , Finland.|b Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki , Finland.
authors: Tomi
authors: T
authors: Virtanen
authors: a Mental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare , Helsinki , Finland.|c Department of Psychiatry, Kellokoski Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital , Finland.
authors: Saana
authors: S
authors: Eskelinen
authors: c Department of Psychiatry, Kellokoski Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital , Finland.
authors: Eila
authors: E
authors: Sailas
authors: a Mental Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare , Helsinki , Finland.
authors: Jaana
authors: J
authors: Suvisaari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003024:Clozapine
keywords: Schizophrenia; analgesics; clozapine; constipation; diabetes; dyspepsia