J Korean Acad Fam Med.  1997 Apr;18(4):411-423.

Comparison of depression, anxiety and stress levels between non ulcer dyspepsia group and control group

• Lee JY
• Cho BS
• Lee GY
• Park TJ
• Choi BH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Non ulcer dyspepsia(NUD) is a commonly encountered disease at the primary practice. The relations of functional gastrointestinal disorder and Irritable bowel syndrome with depression or stress were suggested by previous studies. But the contributions of the anxiety, depression and stress as a whole to the NUD were not assessed. In this study, we wanted to show the associations of the anxiety, depression and stress levels with NUD.
METHODS
This study was performed by case and control method from Aug. 1 to Sep. 7 at the outpatient department of Family Medicine and at the Health Management and Service department in Pusan Paik Hospital. The both groups were matched by sex and age. The case was defined who has three or more symptoms among nine upper gastrointestinal symtoms like dyspepsia, epigastric pain and anorexia etc. frequently or alwalys and who has no ulcer at the gastrofibroscope. The anxiety, depression, stress levels were measured by questionnaire which was validated by previous studies. The questionnaire was composed of Trait-STAI, Jung's Self Depression Scale(SDS), Modified BEPSI, and Grobal Assessment of Recent Stress(GARS) Scale.
RESULTS
The total subjects were 136 persons(NUD group : 86 persons/control group : 86 persons). There were. significant differances in regularity of diet(P<0.001), levels of education(P=0.009), and history of medications(P<0.001) between two groups. The two group had higher scores than the control group in the depression score, anxiety score and modified BEPSI score(P<0.001). All items in GARS showed higher scores in NUD group than in control group(P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
NUD group had higher degree of anxiety and depression than the control group. It seems that the NUD may have streeful status. When we encounter the NUD in outpatiet department, we had better consider the underlying psychogenic or stressful conditions.

MeSH Terms

Anorexia
Anxiety*
Busan
Depression*
Dyspepsia*
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Outpatients
Ulcer*
Surveys and Questionnaires