Ongoing symptoms after eradication of Helicobacter pylori: psychiatric disorders may accompany.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The precise mechanism of functional dyspepsia is yet to be elucidated. Helicobacter pylori infection and psychiatric disorders are implicated in the etiology. We aimed to determine the prevalence of psychiatric co-morbid disorders in patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive functional dyspepsia and the impact of existing psychiatric disorders on symptomatic response following eradication treatment.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive functional dyspepsia and no previous diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder were included in the study. All patients' symptoms were evaluated with a visual analog scale and Likert scale. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was applied to all patients by an experienced psychiatric nurse.

RESULTS

At least one psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in 22 of 54 patients. The most common disorder was depression, found in 13 patients. Symptomatic response to treatment was significantly higher in functional dyspepsia patients with no psychiatric disorder compared to those with at least one psychiatric co-morbid disorder (84% vs. 50%; p=0.007).

CONCLUSION

Psychiatric co-morbid disorders are common in patients with functional dyspepsia and affect symptomatic response to Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment. Psychiatric disorders should be considered in patients who fail to achieve sufficient symptomatic relief after Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment.