Neurogastroenterology

Determinants of symptoms in functional dyspepsia: gastric sensorimotor function, psychosocial factors or somatisation?

L Van Oudenhove^1,2, J Vandenberghe², B Geeraerts¹, R Vos¹, P Persoons², B Fischler², K Demyttenaere², J Tack¹

¹ Department of Pathophysiology, Gastroenterology Section, University of Leuven & University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium
² Department of Neurosciences, Division of Psychiatry, University of Leuven & University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium

ProfessorDr J Tack, Center for Gastroenterological Research, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, O&N 1, 7th Floor, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Jan.Tack{at}med.kuleuven.be

Background: Gastric sensorimotor dysfunction, psychosocial factors and somatisation are all implicated in symptom generation in functional dyspepsia (FD).

Aim: To determine the relative contribution of each of these factors to overall dyspeptic symptom severity and weight loss in FD.

Methods: In 201 consecutive tertiary care patients with FD (mean age 40.1 (SD 12.6) years), gastric sensorimotor function was studied using barostat (sensitivity, compliance and accommodation). Psychosocial factors (depression and anxiety disorders, positive and negative affect, perceived stress, alexithymia and history of abuse), somatisation and co-morbid irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic fatigue symptoms were assessed using self-report questionnaires. Variables were correlated with dyspepsia symptom severity (DSS) and weight loss. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to identify determinants of DSS and weight loss.

Results: Multiple linear regression identified the following determinants of DSS: gastric sensitivity (β = 0.77, p = 0.25), depression (β = 0.12, p = 0.06) and somatisation (β = 0.48, p<0.0001) (controlling for age and occupation, R² = 0.29, p<0.0001). The effect of depression on DSS is partially mediated by somatisation. Gastric sensitivity (β = 2.87, p = 0.08), history of childhood sexual abuse (β = 9.37, p = 0.0006), depression (β = 0.19, p = 0.24) and somatisation (β = 0.67, p = 0.01) are independent determinants of weight loss (controlling for gender and occupation, R² = 0.42, p<0.0001). The effect of depression on weight loss is fully mediated by somatisation.

Conclusion: Symptom severity and weight loss in FD are determined by psychosocial factors (depression, abuse history) and somatisation, and only to a lesser extent by gastric sensorimotor function. The importance of psychosocial factors and somatisation compared to gastric sensorimotor function is most pronounced in hypersensitive patients.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Somatisation in functional dyspepsia: integrating gastric physiology with psychological state

Francis Creed
Gut 2008 57: 1642-1643. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Savarino, E, Pohl, D, Zentilin, P, Dulbecco, P, Sammito, G, Sconfienza, L, Vigneri, S, Camerini, G, Tutuian, R, Savarino, V (2009). Functional heartburn has more in common with functional dyspepsia than with non-erosive reflux disease. Gut 58: 1185-1191 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Creed, F. (2008). Somatisation in functional dyspepsia: integrating gastric physiology with psychological state. Gut 57: 1642-1643 [Full Text]