The role of stress factors in the formation of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children: characteristics of anxiety-phobic and depressive disorders

Abstract

Introduction. There is enough evidence of the influence of the psycho-emotional state of children on the development of gas-troesophageal reflux disease, numerous studies reveal anxiety and depressive disorders in them. However, there is no common understanding of the specific causal relationships underlying the pathogenesis of this disease.Aim. To identify the features and possible causes of anxiety and depressive disorders in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease and analyze their role using Yu.I. Burlan's system-vector psychology.Materials and methods. 677 adolescents aged 11-17 years were examined on the basis of the pediatric department in the Clinic of the Research Institute of Medical Problems of the North (Krasnoyarsk). The gastroesophageal reflux diseasewas diagnosed by testing according to the Russian version of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Questionnaire. Computerized testing “The Development and Well-Being Assessment” was used to identify mental disorders.Results. In children with gastroesophageal reflux disease, all kinds of fears were significantly more common: fear of separation - 50.0 (25.1-74.9)%; darkness, thunderstorms, thunder, heights - 66.7 (38.6-86.1)%; blood injections, wounds - 58.3 (31.6-80.8)%; loud noise - 33.3 (13.9-61.4)%; to be far from home - 41.7 (19.2-68.4)%. 41.7 (19.2-68.4)% of children had manifestations of depression, which is 2 times more often than in the control group, and every fourth had self-harm. Separation from friends, panic attacks, fear of death, melancholy, resentment, learning problems, appearance were indicated as the causes of depression.Conclusions. The causal relationships disclosed by the system-vector psychology, according to which certain stress factors play an important role in the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease. These factors depend on the type of character: for emotional children, these are all kinds of fears, phobias, breaking emotional ties, problems in relationships with others, and for obedient and calm children - resentment, learning problems and any factor of novelty (change of the usual environment, living conditions, team).