Abstract
Introduction: Patients with abdominal pain often return multiple times despite no definitive diagnosis. Our objective was to determine if repeat emergency department (ED) use among patients with non-specific abdominal pain might be associated with a diagnosis of moderate to severe depressive disorder.Methods: We screened 987 ED patients for major depression during weekday daytime hours from June 2011 through November 2011 using a validated depression screening tool, the PHQ-9. Each subject was classified as either no depression, mild depression or moderate/severe depression based on the screening tool. Within this group, we identified 83 patients with non-specific abdominal pain by either primary or secondary diagnosis. Comparing depressed patients versus non-depressed patients, we analyzed demographic characteristics and number of prior ED visits in the past year.Results: In patients with non-specific abdominal pain, 61.9% of patients with moderate or severe depression (PHQ9≥10) had at least one visit to our ED for the same complaint within a 365-day period, as compared to 29.2% of patients with no depression (PHQ9<5), (p=0.013).Conclusion: Repeat ED use among patients with non-specific abdominal pain is associated with moderate to severe depressive disorder. Patients with multiple visits for abdominal pain may benefit from targeted ED screening for depression. [West J Emerg Med. 2014;15(3):325–328.]
Highlights
Patients with abdominal pain often return multiple times despite no definitive diagnosis
Our objective was to determine if repeat emergency department (ED) use among patients with non-specific abdominal pain might be associated with a diagnosis of moderate to severe depressive disorder
We identified 83 patients with non-specific abdominal pain by either primary or secondary diagnosis
Summary
Patients with abdominal pain often return multiple times despite no definitive diagnosis. Our objective was to determine if repeat emergency department (ED) use among patients with non-specific abdominal pain might be associated with a diagnosis of moderate to severe depressive disorder. Patients with gastrointestinal (GI) complaints are common to emergency departments (EDs) and may be recipients of inefficient and expensive testing.[1] ED patients with nonspecific abdominal pain may have an association with psychiatric disorders similar to the association observed with functional GI disorders, a highly prevalent class of diseases that comprise 40% of U.S gastroenterology practice and are strongly associated with depression and anxiety.[2,3] Despite an increase in testing, many ED patients are discharged with a diagnosis of non-specific abdominal pain.[4] New diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are needed to care for this large group of patients. Our objective was to determine if repeat ED use among patients with nonspecific abdominal pain might be associated with a diagnosis of moderate to severe depressive disorder
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
