sam
07-20-2007, 01:15 PM
People with GI symptoms more likely to have anxiety and depression
People who have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, are more likely to have anxiety disorders or depression than people who do not have such symptoms, Norwegian researchers found in a study of over 60,000 people. Those who experience nausea are over three times as likely to have an anxiety disorder and almost one and half times as likely to have depression as those who do not experience nausea. Better recognition of anxiety and depressive symptoms by primary care physicians could mean better diagnosis and treatment for people who seek help for gastrointestinal symptoms.
The Study
Researchers studied responses from the Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag County of Norway (HUNT) to determine whether or not there was a relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) and mental health issues.
All adults, ages 20 and older, of Nord-Trøndelag County were sent questionnaires between August 1995 and April 1997. Of those 94,197 adults, 62,651 responded. The purpose of HUNT was to study physical and mental health along with demographic and lifestyle factors. Participants were asked to report any gastrointestinal symptoms experienced in the past year along with their severity ("minor" or "major"); symptoms included nausea, heartburn, diarrhea and constipation. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used for participants to self-rate anxiety and depressive symptoms. Of all participants who participated in the HUNT questionnaire, 60,998 responded to both the GIS and HADS sections.
The Results
The results of the GIS and HADS sections of the HUNT questionnaire were reported as follows: Gastrointestinal symptoms:
48% of participants reported at least one GI symptom (either minor or major)
28% experienced heartburn
20.2% experienced constipation
15.3% experienced diarrhea
12.5% experienced nausea
9.9% of participants experienced gastrointestinal symptoms as "major" in severity
Females reported more GI symptoms than men
Anxiety and depression:
15.5% of participants had symptoms of an anxiety disorder
10.4% of participants had symptoms of depression
Females (17.9%) reported anxiety symptoms more than males (12.5%). Depression symptoms were equal for men and women.
Anxiety, Depression and Gastrointestinal Symptoms
After studying the results of the HUNT questionnaire, the researchers found that anxiety and depression were both "significant" risk factors for gastrointestinal symptoms. Anxiety was found to be a stronger risk factor than depression with nausea being the main GI symptom associated with anxiety. Participants who experienced nausea were over three times as likely to have an anxiety disorder than those who did not experience nausea. Those who experienced nausea were also almost one and a half times as likely to have depression.
The researchers point out that there may be more than one cause for the association between anxiety, depression and GI symptoms, so further study is necessary. GI symptoms could cause symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly if a person is bothered or worried about the GI condition over time. On the other hand, GI symptoms may be symptoms of the anxiety and depressive disorders. Additionally, nausea and other GI symptoms are common side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are commonly used to treat both anxiety and depression.
The large population researched in this study shows that these results are significant and worthy of further exploration. "Because many people with symptoms of nausea seek care from primary care practices, these physicians should not overlook depression and anxiety as potential diagnoses," recommends Dr. Tone Tangen Haug, who headed the research, in a press release for the Center for the Advancement of Health. Haug also points out that consideration of anxiety and depression as causes of GI symptoms could prevent unnecessary long-term use of "potentially harmful medications for nausea."
Reference: Haug TT, Mykletun A, Dahl AA (2002). Are anxiety and depression related to gastrointestinal symptoms in the general population? Scand J Gastroenterol 37(3): 294-298.
thanks,
sam.
People who have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, are more likely to have anxiety disorders or depression than people who do not have such symptoms, Norwegian researchers found in a study of over 60,000 people. Those who experience nausea are over three times as likely to have an anxiety disorder and almost one and half times as likely to have depression as those who do not experience nausea. Better recognition of anxiety and depressive symptoms by primary care physicians could mean better diagnosis and treatment for people who seek help for gastrointestinal symptoms.
The Study
Researchers studied responses from the Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag County of Norway (HUNT) to determine whether or not there was a relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) and mental health issues.
All adults, ages 20 and older, of Nord-Trøndelag County were sent questionnaires between August 1995 and April 1997. Of those 94,197 adults, 62,651 responded. The purpose of HUNT was to study physical and mental health along with demographic and lifestyle factors. Participants were asked to report any gastrointestinal symptoms experienced in the past year along with their severity ("minor" or "major"); symptoms included nausea, heartburn, diarrhea and constipation. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used for participants to self-rate anxiety and depressive symptoms. Of all participants who participated in the HUNT questionnaire, 60,998 responded to both the GIS and HADS sections.
The Results
The results of the GIS and HADS sections of the HUNT questionnaire were reported as follows: Gastrointestinal symptoms:
48% of participants reported at least one GI symptom (either minor or major)
28% experienced heartburn
20.2% experienced constipation
15.3% experienced diarrhea
12.5% experienced nausea
9.9% of participants experienced gastrointestinal symptoms as "major" in severity
Females reported more GI symptoms than men
Anxiety and depression:
15.5% of participants had symptoms of an anxiety disorder
10.4% of participants had symptoms of depression
Females (17.9%) reported anxiety symptoms more than males (12.5%). Depression symptoms were equal for men and women.
Anxiety, Depression and Gastrointestinal Symptoms
After studying the results of the HUNT questionnaire, the researchers found that anxiety and depression were both "significant" risk factors for gastrointestinal symptoms. Anxiety was found to be a stronger risk factor than depression with nausea being the main GI symptom associated with anxiety. Participants who experienced nausea were over three times as likely to have an anxiety disorder than those who did not experience nausea. Those who experienced nausea were also almost one and a half times as likely to have depression.
The researchers point out that there may be more than one cause for the association between anxiety, depression and GI symptoms, so further study is necessary. GI symptoms could cause symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly if a person is bothered or worried about the GI condition over time. On the other hand, GI symptoms may be symptoms of the anxiety and depressive disorders. Additionally, nausea and other GI symptoms are common side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are commonly used to treat both anxiety and depression.
The large population researched in this study shows that these results are significant and worthy of further exploration. "Because many people with symptoms of nausea seek care from primary care practices, these physicians should not overlook depression and anxiety as potential diagnoses," recommends Dr. Tone Tangen Haug, who headed the research, in a press release for the Center for the Advancement of Health. Haug also points out that consideration of anxiety and depression as causes of GI symptoms could prevent unnecessary long-term use of "potentially harmful medications for nausea."
Reference: Haug TT, Mykletun A, Dahl AA (2002). Are anxiety and depression related to gastrointestinal symptoms in the general population? Scand J Gastroenterol 37(3): 294-298.
thanks,
sam.