Symptom features of irritable bowel syndrome complicated with depression

Abstract

Objective To improve the ability of early recognition of psychological disorders in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients by analyzing somatic and digestive tract symptoms of IBS patients complicated with depression. Methods From May to October 2014, 102 out-patients with IBS were enrolled who completed the questionnaire and were followed-up. Another 102 gender and age matched individual who received check-up were set as healthy controls. The detailed clinical data of all IBS patients were collected. The scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), digestive symptom questionnaire, somatic symptom questionnaire and irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) were evaluated in the IBS patients, and HAMD was evaluated in healthy controls. The t test or chi-square test was performed for statistical analysis. Results HAMD score of the IBS group was 19.1±17.0, which was higher than that of control group (3.2±2.9; t=8.966, P<0.05). Among the 102 IBS patients, 58 were complicated with depression (56.9%) and 44 (43.1%) without depression. Among the IBS patients complicated with depression, 75.9% (44/58) were overlapped with gastrointestinal symptoms, which was higher than that of patients without depression (34.1%, 15/44), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=17.902, P<0.01). The typical somatic symptoms of IBS patients complicated with depression were headaches, dizziness, insomnia, palpitations, chest pain, and chest tightness.The results of IBS-SSS indicated that scores of duration of abdominal pain, bloating degree and the impacts on quality of life in IBS patients complicated with depression were 78.1±28.7, 53.7±17.9 and 69.4±19.7, which were significantly higher than those of IBS patients without depression (34.7±16.6, 37.7±12.5 and 32.4±12.7). The score of defecation satisfaction of IBS patients complicated with depression was 43.7±16.4, which was lower than that of patients without depression (55.0±20.3), and all the differences were statistically significant (t=-8.930, -2.326, -8.913 and -2.344, all P<0.05). Conclusions The somatic and overlapped digestive symptoms of IBS patients complicated with depression are obvious and complicated. For IBS patients with obvious extra symptoms, mental disorders should be taken into consideration. On the basis of the treatment of IBS symptoms, the treatment of psychological disorders are also needed. Key words: Irritable bowel syndrome; Depression; Somatic syndrome