Life events stress in functional dyspepsia: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE

To study the possible relationship between life-events stress and functional dyspepsia.

DESIGN

Prospective and case-control study. Exclusion of obvious organic disease for the dyspepsia.

METHODS

Life-events stress scale; derived from life-events scale by Tennant and Andrews. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and abdominal sonography.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the patients and controls in relation to the number and categories of life events. Significant differences, however, were noticed in relation to experiencing individual life events, but the interpretation of these differences is not clear-cut, as they were present in both patients and controls.

CONCLUSION

The question of the relationship between the stress and functional dyspepsia remains unresolved and further quantitative studies are needed before reaching a final conclusion.