Frequency of Different Psychiatric Disorders in Patients With Functional Bowel Disorders: A Short Report

Fakhraei, Bahareh; Firouzabadi, Ali; Farjam, Mojtaba; Fattahi, Mohammad Reza; Kazemi, Mohamad Hasan; Alizade Naini, Mahvash; Moini, Maryam

doi:10.17795/acr-27621

Frequency of Different Psychiatric Disorders in Patients With Functional Bowel Disorders: A Short Report

Authors

Bahareh Fakhraei ¹

Ali Firouzabadi ²

Mojtaba Farjam ³

Mohammad Reza Fattahi ⁴

Mohamad Hasan Kazemi ⁴

Mahvash Alizade Naini ⁴

Maryam Moini ⁴

¹ Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, IR Iran

² Department of Psychiatry, Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Hafez Hospital, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran

³ Department of Medical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, IR Iran

⁴ Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran

10.17795/acr-27621

Abstract

Background Functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders are very common and many patients with such disorders are not satisfied with treatment outcomes. Psychological aspects of functional disorders need special attention that may play an important role in patient management. Objectives In this study, psychology evaluation was performed for a population of patients with functional bowel disorders. Patients and Methods One hundred patients with functional bowel disorders including 50 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) referred to GI clinics were candidates for psychiatry evaluation; of those 60 patients completed the study. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed using a structured clinical interview based on diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders IV (DSM IV). Results Of 60 patients with functional bowel disorders (including 39 IBS), 51 (85%) were diagnosed with at least one psychiatry disorder. The most common disorders were dysthymia (25%) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (20%). There was no significant difference between IBS patients and other functional bowel disorders regarding the prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Conclusions Psychiatric disorders are very prevalent among patients with functional bowel disorders. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management of associated psychiatric disorders along with GI targeted treatments may lead to a better outcome in these patients.

Keywords

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Mental disorders

Irritable bowel syndrome