Comparison of Alexithymia, Anxiety, Depression and Digestive Symptoms Between Patients with Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

Background:

The purpose of this study was to compare alexithymia, anxiety, depression and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders and psychiatric patients.

Materials and Methods:

This was a comparative study. Study subjects consisted of 210 individuals; 129 patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) who referred to the Psychosomatic Disorders Clinic (GI) and 81 psychiatric patients who referred to the Mood Disorders Clinic of Noor Hospital, Isfahan, Iran during 1387 (2008). Subjects' symptoms were scored according to the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS). Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance.

Results:

The results showed significant differences between two group of FGID and psychiatric patients in terms of alexithymia, anxiety, depression and severity of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Conclusion:

The study showed that in comparison to psychiatric patients, FGID patients have higher rates of alexithymia, anxiety, depression and more severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Alexithymia plays an important role in understanding symptoms and referrals to doctor's offices. Regardless of which treatment is selected by the patients, a high proportion experience concurrent psychiatric and functional somatic symptoms. Therefore, evaluation and attention to this factor is necessary for the treatment of psychosomatic disorders.