Probability of major depression diagnostic classification using semi-structured versus fully structured diagnostic interviews.

BACKGROUND: Different diagnostic interviews are used as reference standards for major depression classification in research. Semi-structured interviews involve clinical judgement, whereas fully structured interviews are completely scripted. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), a brief fully structured interview, is also sometimes used. It is not known whether interview method is associated with probability of major depression classification.AimsTo evaluate the association between interview method and odds of major depression classification, controlling for depressive symptom scores and participant characteristics. METHOD: Data collected for an individual participant data meta-analysis of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) diagnostic accuracy were analysed and binomial generalised linear mixed models were fit. RESULTS: A total of 17 158 participants (2287 with major depression) from 57 primary studies were analysed. Among fully structured interviews, odds of major depression were higher for the MINI compared with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) (odds ratio (OR) = 2.10; 95% CI = 1.15-3.87). Compared with semi-structured interviews, fully structured interviews (MINI excluded) were non-significantly more likely to classify participants with low-level depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores ≤6) as having major depression (OR = 3.13; 95% CI = 0.98-10.00), similarly likely for moderate-level symptoms (PHQ-9 scores 7-15) (OR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.56-1.66) and significantly less likely for high-level symptoms (PHQ-9 scores ≥16) (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.26-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: The MINI may identify more people as depressed than the CIDI, and semi-structured and fully structured interviews may not be interchangeable methods, but these results should be replicated.Declaration of interestDrs Jetté and Patten declare that they received a grant, outside the submitted work, from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, which was jointly funded by the Institute and Pfizer. Pfizer was the original sponsor of the development of the PHQ-9, which is now in the public domain. Dr Chan is a steering committee member or consultant of Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Lilly, MSD and Pfizer. She has received sponsorships and honorarium for giving lectures and providing consultancy and her affiliated institution has received research grants from these companies. Dr Hegerl declares that within the past 3 years, he was an advisory board member for Lundbeck, Servier and Otsuka Pharma; a consultant for Bayer Pharma; and a speaker for Medice Arzneimittel, Novartis, and Roche Pharma, all outside the submitted work. Dr Inagaki declares that he has received grants from Novartis Pharma, lecture fees from Pfizer, Mochida, Shionogi, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, Daiichi-Sankyo, Meiji Seika and Takeda, and royalties from Nippon Hyoron Sha, Nanzando, Seiwa Shoten, Igaku-shoin and Technomics, all outside of the submitted work. Dr Yamada reports personal fees from Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd., MSD K.K., Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation, Seishin Shobo, Seiwa Shoten Co., Ltd., Igaku-shoin Ltd., Chugai Igakusha and Sentan Igakusha, all outside the submitted work. All other authors declare no competing interests. No funder had any role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; preparation, review or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Prospective relationship between hemispheric lateralisation and CD4+ T cells in human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

OBJECTIVES: Neuromodulation of the immune system has been proposed to be influenced by hemispheric lateralisation (HL). The present study tested whether HL predicted CD4+ levels, statistically controlling for confounders. METHODS: Employing two assessments of HL, 68 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1+ patients were followed prospectively. Numerous exclusion criteria and confounder assessments were employed (e.g. age/medication). RESULTS: Left HL significantly positively predicted CD4+ levels at follow-up, and this was qualified by medication (HAART) status: only in HAART-naïve patients did HL predict CD4 levels. Furthermore, HL significantly predicted whether patients had clinically significantly high/low CD4+ counts. CONCLUSIONS: Using a more rigorous methodology than a previous study, the present work partly corroborated the theory of HL influences on immunity, extended it to HIV immunity and identified a possible moderator: HAART medication. Implications for future research and treatments are provided.

Regional brain activity in functional dyspepsia: a H(2)(15)O-PET study on the role of gastric sensitivity and abuse history.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Differences in brain activity between health and functional dyspepsia (FD) have been reported; it is unclear whether this is influenced by gastric hypersensitivity or abuse history. Therefore, we aimed to determine the influence of gastric sensitivity and abuse history on gastric sensation scores and brain activity in homeostatic-afferent, emotional-arousal, and cortical-modulatory brain regions in FD. METHODS: Abuse history was assessed using a validated self-report questionnaire. H(2)(15)O positron emission tomography was performed in 25 FD patients (13 hypersensitive and 8 abused) during 3 conditions, that is, no distension, gastric distension at discomfort threshold, and sham distension. Data were analyzed in SPM2. Region of interest analysis was used to confirm differences in prehypothesized regions. RESULTS: No association between hypersensitivity and abuse history was found. Gastric hypersensitivity was associated with significantly higher gastric sensation scores during baseline and sham. A condition-independent difference in ventral posterior cingulate activity was found between groups, as well as distension and sham-specific differences in brainstem and cingulate areas. Abuse history was associated with higher gastric sensation scores in all conditions and with differences in insular, prefrontal, and hippocampus/amygdala activity. CONCLUSIONS: Gastric sensitivity and abuse history independently influence gastric sensation as well as brain activity in FD.

Abuse history, depression, and somatization are associated with gastric sensitivity and gastric emptying in functional dyspepsia.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric sensitivity testing relies on subjective reporting and may therefore be influenced by psychosocial factors and somatization. Furthermore, psychological processes may affect gastric motor function (accommodation to a meal emptying) through efferent brain-gut pathways. This study sought to determine the association of abuse history, psychiatric comorbidity, and somatization with gastric sensorimotor function. METHODS: In 201 patients with functional dyspepsia, gastric sensitivity and accommodation were studied with a barostat. Gastric emptying of solids was studied using a breath test. Sexual and physical abuse history, psychiatric comorbidity (depression and panic disorder), and somatization were assessed using validated questionnaires. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify patient characteristics independently associated with gastric sensitivity and emptying. RESULTS: Age (p = .02), sexual abuse history (p < .001), physical abuse history (p = .004), and somatization (p < .001) were independently associated with gastric discomfort threshold (R(2) = 0.30); a significant depression-by-sexual abuse interaction effect was also found (p = .003). None of the factors studied were associated with gastric accommodation to a meal. Physical abuse history (p = .003) and somatization (p = .048) were independently associated with gastric emptying (R(2) = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the complex relationship among abuse history, psychiatric comorbidity, somatization, and gastric sensorimotor (dys)function. Although the psychobiological mechanisms underlying these relationships remain to be determined, the autonomic nervous, stress hormone, and immune systems may be involved.

Abnormal regional brain activity during rest and (anticipated) gastric distension in functional dyspepsia and the role of anxiety: a H(2)(15)O-PET study.

OBJECTIVES: During gastric distension in hypersensitive functional dyspepsia (FD), activation was found in somatosensory cortex (SI/SII) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) but, contrary to controls, not in pregenual anterior cingulate (pACC). The aims of this article were to study (i) cortical activations and deactivations during distension and sham compared with baseline in FD, regardless of sensitivity status; (ii) differences in brain activity between health and FD during "no distension" conditions; and (iii) the relationship between anxiety and brain activity in FD. METHODS: Brain H(2)(15)O-PET was performed in 25 FD patients (13 hypersensitive) during three conditions: baseline, distension at discomfort threshold, and sham. Brain activity was compared against healthy controls using SPM2. RESULTS: Discomfort threshold was lower; sensation scores in all conditions were higher in patients than controls. (i) Activations were similar to controls, except for a lack of pACC activation during distension in FD. Patients showed no dorsal pons and amygdala deactivation during distension and sham, respectively. (ii) Comparing baseline or sham activity showed the following differences: higher activity in SII/SI, insula, midcingulate (MCC), dorsolateral and ventrolateral PFC in controls; and higher activity in occipital cortex in FD. Differences in left lateral PFC were specific to sham. (iii) Anxiety correlated negatively with pACC and MCC and positively with dorsal pons activity. CONCLUSIONS: FD patients failed to activate pACC, to deactivate dorsal pons during distension, and to deactivate amygdala during sham; this may represent arousal-anxiety-driven failure of pain modulation. During baseline and sham, differences between patients and controls were found in sensory as well as affective-cognitive areas.

Prevalence and impact of self-reported painful and non-painful constipation in the general population.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic constipation, defined by the Rome IV criteria, is a highly prevalent functional bowel disorder with major overlap with other bowel disorders. Therefore, a pooled-analysis to evaluate the presence of self-reported constipation in the general population was conducted. Further, its association with other bowel symptoms and its health-economic impact was analyzed. METHODS: Collection of information on bowel symptoms' prevalence and their impact was done through an Internet survey (Medistrat Internet panel). The analysis focused on patients who reported constipation symptoms over the last 12 months. Firstly, participants who with or without constipation were compared. Secondly, subjects reporting constipation with (PC) or without abdominal pain (NPC) were studied. KEY RESULTS: A total of 1012 subjects (45.2 ± 0.5 years old, 62% females), of whom 217 (21%) reported constipation, completed the survey. Women were significantly more represented in the group reporting constipation compared to those with other bowel symptoms (81.57% vs 56.60%, P < .0001). Subjects reporting constipation experienced more additional bowel symptoms than those who did not report constipation [3(2-6) vs 2(1-4), P < .0001]. Of those with constipation, 134 patients reported NPC compared to 83 patients with PC. The presence of PC was associated with higher prevalence of diarrhea symptoms, alternating bowel movements, bloating, cramps, gas, and altered stool frequency and consistency (all P < .01). Out of 83 PC patients, 38 (45.24%) fulfilled the Rome IV IBS criteria. CONCLUSION: Self-reported constipation, often associated with other bowel symptoms, is a highly prevalent condition in the Belgian general population. Especially when abdominal pain is present, this generates major healthcare costs.

Socioeconomic correlates of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression in primary care: the GADIS II study (Generalized Anxiety and Depression Impact Survey II).

A previous Generalized Anxiety Disorder Impact Survey (GADIS I) performed on 15,399 Belgian patients consulting their primary care physicians, revealed high prevalences of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression (MD) with important regional differences. The objective of this study (GADIS II) was to replicate previous findings and to evaluate the role of socioeconomic factors in the diagnoses of GAD and MD. A large-scale cross-sectional survey was conducted in a random sample of 377 general practitioners distributed geographically over Belgium and Luxemburg. Each physician was asked to screen 40 consecutive patients at predefined time periods for the presence of GAD and MD using sections of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Socioeconomic parameters were collected. The level of impairment was assessed using the Sheehan Disability Scale. In a sample of 13,699 patients, point prevalences of GAD and of MD were found to be 13.4 and 11.0%, respectively. Overall, 17.8% of the population was positive for GAD and/or MD. Both disorders were significantly more frequent in women than in men. Marked regional differences were observed with prevalences for GAD and/or MD of 24.2% in Brussels, 22.7% in Wallonia, 13.6% in Luxemburg and 12.9% in Flanders. Several socioeconomic factors were significantly associated with positive diagnoses: living alone, a low level of education and unemployment. However, regional differences remained significant even after controlling for socioeconomic factors. The study confirms the high prevalence of GAD and MD in primary care and the role of several socioeconomic and regional factors in the illnesses.

Relationship between anxiety and gastric sensorimotor function in functional dyspepsia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between anxiety and gastric sensorimotor function in patients with (hypersensitive) functional dyspepsia (FD). Comorbidity between FD and anxiety disorders is high. In FD, epigastric pain is associated with gastric hypersensitivity and neuroticism, a personality trait related to anxiety. Experimentally induced anxiety in healthy volunteers is associated with changes in sensorimotor function of the proximal stomach. METHODS: A total of 139 patients with FD (n = 102 women) underwent a barostat investigation to determine gastric compliance, meal accommodation, and thresholds for discomfort and pain. Anxiety was measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scale (anxiety as a stable personality trait) and the STAI-State scale (momentary anxiety). The anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A) was filled out to detect comorbid anxiety disorders. RESULTS: Hyper- and normosensitive patients had similar anxiety scores, but gastric compliance was significantly lower in hypersensitive patients (11.4 versus 32.8 ml/mm Hg; p < .001). In the whole patient group, no significant correlations between STAI scores and gastric sensorimotor function were found. In hypersensitive patients (n = 53, 43 women), state anxiety was negatively correlated with discomfort threshold (rho = -.49; p = .001), pain threshold (rho = -.48; p = .02), and gastric compliance (rho = -.46; p = .002). These results were confirmed by multiple linear and logistic regression analyses. CONCLUSION: In hypersensitive patients with FD, state anxiety is significantly and negatively correlated with discomfort threshold, pain threshold, and compliance. These results strengthen the hypothesis that anxiety is important in FD, especially in hypersensitive patients.

Prevalence and impact of generalized anxiety disorder and major depression in primary care in Belgium and Luxemburg: the GADIS study.

PURPOSE: GADIS aims at determining the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression (MD) in primary care and their impact on the patient's functioning in Belgium and Luxemburg. METHOD: A large scale screening program was conducted at the consultation of general practitioners to detect patients with GAD and MD according to DSM-IV criteria. We collected additional data regarding the use of hypnotic, tranquilizer, antidepressant and analgesic medications. Impact on the patient was assessed with the Sheehan disability scale. RESULTS: Three hundred GP's in Belgium and Luxemburg were asked to screen 50 consecutive patients. Of the 13,677 analyzed patients, 8.3% were diagnosed to have GAD and 6.3% MD. Comorbidity was observed in 4.2% of patients. The prevalence was much higher in the French-speaking part of Belgium. GAD and MD were associated with impairment in social, familial and professional functioning. Only a minority of patients with GAD and/or MD was treated with an antidepressant and almost half of subjects with GAD and/or MD were treated with a tranquilizer. CONCLUSION: Prevalence rates of GAD and MD in primary care in Belgium are comparable to other countries. GAD and MD are disabling conditions. Antidepressants are still used only in a minority of subjects with GAD and/or MD in primary care in Belgium and Luxemburg. The prevalence of GAD and MD appears to be much higher in French-speaking parts of Belgium.

Anxiety and mood disorders in otorhinolaryngology outpatients presenting with dizziness: validation of the self-administered PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire and epidemiology.

The aims of the study were to: 1) assess the validity of the mood and anxiety modules of the PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) in otorhinolaryngology outpatients consulting with dizziness; and, 2) the prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders in these patients and in 3 subgroups based on of the cause of dizziness (Functional group, with psychogenic or hyperventilation factor; Organic group with an organic cause; Unspecified group without indication of organic or psychogenic cause). The PRIME-MD PHQ was completed by 268 consecutive outpatients. In 97 patients a psychiatric interview was performed. Operating characteristics indicated good criterion validity for the assessed modules of the PRIME-MD PHQ. Thirty five percent of the patients were diagnosed with "Any Anxiety or Depressive Disorder". In the Functional group, the prevalence of "Any Anxiety or Depressive Disorder" was significantly higher than in the Organic group (P<.0001) and than in the Unspecified group (P<.0001). In the Unspecified group, the prevalence of "Any Anxiety or Depressive Disorder" was significantly lower than in the Organic group (P =.007). Our findings support the criterion validity of the PRIME-MD PHQ for anxiety and depressive disorders in otorhinolaryngology outpatients with dizziness. Psychiatric disorders were highly prevalent and differences in psychiatric status between the different subgroups were demonstrated.

Personality and affect as determinants of medically unexplained symptoms in primary care; A follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the personality dimensions, neuroticism and alexithymia, and the affective state dimensions measuring negative and positive affect significantly contributed to changes over time in the number of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) reported. METHODS: A total of 318 patients, presenting to their primary care physician with MUS, participated in the study. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess to what extent neuroticism, alexithymia, negative affect and positive affect independently contributed to (1) increase vs. decrease in the number of symptoms reported, and (2) the presence of a consistently high number of MUS over a 6-month follow-up period. RESULTS: Negative affect was the strongest determinant of changes in the number of symptoms reported. In addition, low positive affect significantly contributed to changes in the number of symptoms over time. Next to negative affect, the dimension of alexithymia measuring difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) was found to be an independent predictor of a consistently high number of MUS. Neither neuroticism nor general alexithymia independently contributed to changes in the number of symptoms over time or to symptom persistence. CONCLUSIONS: Negative affect is an important determinant of MUS, because it contributes both to symptom evolution and symptom persistence. Positive affect has a beneficial effect on somatic symptom evolution, whereas the alexithymia dimension measuring DIF clearly contributes to the prediction of symptom persistence.

Temporal stability and differential relationships with neuroticism and extraversion of the three subscales of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale in clinical and nonclinical samples.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the cross-sample and temporal stability of the three subscales of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and to study the pattern of associations between the TAS-20 scales, neuroticism, and alexithymia. METHODS: Two clinical and three nonclinical samples were included in the cross-sectional part of the study. One clinical and one nonclinical sample also participated in the 6-month follow-up study. To test the replicability of the three-factor structure of the TAS-20 across samples, a principal component analysis was conducted, followed by a Procrustes rotation. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine temporal stability and to determine the specificity of the associations among the TAS-20 scales, neuroticism, and extraversion. RESULTS: The three-factor structure of the TAS-20 was confirmed across all five samples. With a few exceptions, neuroticism and extraversion attained a higher level of temporal stability than the alexithymia scales. The TAS-subscale measuring difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) was less stable in the clinical than in the nonclinical sample. Neuroticism was most strongly associated with DIF, whereas extraversion was mainly related to externally oriented thinking (EOT). A combination of both neuroticism and extraversion was the best predictor of difficulty describing feelings (DDF). CONCLUSIONS: Future studies on the psychometric properties and the clinical value of the TAS-20 should pay more attention to its subscales. Especially the EOT facet needs further examination.

Diagnosing depression: what's in a name?

BACKGROUND: Large and undeclared differences exist between incidence and prevalence rates of depression in general practice based morbidity registries, and in registries based on questionnaires of questionnaire-based interviews. We tried to identify possible explanations for these differences. METHOD: Literature-based discussions were held among a multidisciplinary group of clinicians and researchers. FINDINGS: Selection bias and imperfections in the diagnostic capabilities of each of the systems may play a role, but they are insufficient explanations for the differences that were identified. Questionnaires provide factual information on a patient's situation. Frequently no information is available on the intensity or consistency of the symptoms and on the personal growth or coping strategies that were developed by the patient. GPs may register depressive complaints as part of other psychological problems to which the depression is related. Their diagnostic strategy is part of a process to identify those who can benefit from specific interventions. In general practice, depression is a diagnosis that tends to emerge progressively. Depression can be considered as a way of coping with events. DSM-based questionnaires provide information that is more related to a latent characteristic of a personality, rather than a temporal, inappropriate expression of this characteristic, as identified in a clinical diagnosis. INTERPRETATION: Conceptual differences and different objectives when diagnosing, more than selection bias or diagnostic imperfections, tend to be responsible for the identified differences in occurrence rates of depression.

Regional cerebral blood flow during gastric balloon distention in functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hypersensitivity to proximal gastric distention as a result of abnormal central nervous system processing of visceral stimuli is a possible pathophysiologic mechanism in functional dyspepsia (FD). Increasing evidence suggests involvement of both lateral and medial pain systems in normal visceral sensitivity and aberrant brain activation patterns in visceral hypersensitivity. We hypothesized that there is involvement of aberrant brain activation in FD with hypersensitivity to gastric distention. Our aim was to investigate regional cerebral blood flow during painful proximal gastric distention in hypersensitive FD. METHODS: Brain (15)O-water positron emission tomography was performed in 13 FD patients with symptoms of gastric hypersensitivity during 3 conditions: no distention, sham distention, and isobaric distention to unpleasant or painful sensation. Pain, discomfort, nausea, and bloating during maximal distention were rated on visual analogue scales. Data were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping. RESULTS: The threshold for painful distention was 6.6 +/- 3.8 mm Hg greater than the minimal distending pressure. At the corrected P level of less than .05, subtraction analysis (painful distention - no distention) showed activations in bilateral gyrus precentralis, bilateral gyrus frontalis inferior, bilateral gyrus frontalis medialis, bilateral gyrus temporalis superior, bilateral cerebellar hemisphere, and left gyrus temporalis inferior. Sham distention minus no distention showed no activations. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to healthy volunteers, proximal stomach distention in FD activates components of the lateral pain system and bilateral frontal inferior gyri, putatively involved in regulation of hunger and satiety. In hypersensitive FD, these activations occur at significantly lower distention pressures. In contrast to findings in normosensitivity, none of the components of the medial pain system were significantly activated.

Regional brain activation during proximal stomach distention in humans: A positron emission tomography study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hypersensitivity to proximal gastric distention due to abnormal central nervous system processing of visceral stimuli has been suggested as a possible underlying pathophysiologic mechanism in functional dyspepsia. However, the cortical regions activated by distention of the proximal stomach have not been identified. The aim of this study was to investigate regional brain activation during painful and nonpainful proximal gastric distention in humans. METHODS: Positron emission tomography of the brain was performed in 11 healthy volunteers during 4 conditions: (1) no distention and isobaric distention to the individual thresholds for (2) first, (3) marked, and (4) unpleasant sensation. Data were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping. RESULTS: During maximal distention relative to baseline, significant (P corrected <.05) regional brain activation occurred in the left and right gyrus postcentralis (Brodmann area [BA] 43), the left gyrus temporalis superior (BA 38), the right gyrus frontalis inferior (BA 47, orbitofrontal cortex), the right midanterior cingulate gyrus (BA 24), the right anterior insula, and the left cerebellar hemisphere. These areas showed a progressive increase in activation with increasing intensity of the distending stimulus. CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence for a neuronal network processing distention stimuli of the proximal stomach that is overall consistent with the "visceral stimulation network" described in the literature. In addition, we found activation of the orbitofrontal cortex, confirming its role as a convergence zone for processing of food-related stimuli and regulation of hunger, appetite, satiety, and food intake. We found no evidence for a functional neuroanatomic divergence in the processing of noxious and innocuous gastric stimuli.

Somatization: a critical review of conceptual and methodological issues.

Despite its apparent clinical importance and the extensive research that has been conducted in the past decades, somatization remains a complex concept. Two distinct ways of looking at somatization can be distinguished: somatization as a phenomenon that is secondary to psychological distress (presenting somatization) and somatization as a primary phenomenon characterized by medically unexplained symptoms (functional somatization). The literature was analyzed in terms of this distinction and a selective review was conducted, focusing on a critical analysis of conceptual and methodological issues related to presenting and functional somatization. A number of measurement issues related to somatization in general were also highlighted. On the basis of the available data, the strengths and weaknesses of different concepts are pointed out. Conclusions are formulated regarding which concepts or approaches might be useful both clinically and from a research perspective. Finally, a number of suggestions for future research are offered.

Impact of coexisting irritable bowel syndrome on symptoms and pathophysiological mechanisms in functional dyspepsia.

UNLABELLED: Epidemiological studies suggest considerable overlap between functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether coexisting IBS is also associated with symptom pattern or pathophysiology in FD. METHODS: In 309 consecutive FD patients (207 women, age 42 +/- 0.8 yr), questionnaires were used to assess the dyspepsia symptom pattern and the Rome II criteria for IBS. The overall symptom severity was calculated adding the severity score (0-3, 0 = absent, 3 = severe) of eight dyspepsia symptoms. All patients underwent Helicobacter pylori testing, gastric barostat to determine sensitivity to distention and accommodation to a meal, and gastric emptying breath test. RESULTS: Fifty-four percent of the patients had FD alone, whereas 46% had FD + IBS. FD + IBS patients were more likely to be female (75%vs 60%, p < 0.01) and to have a greater weight loss (5.4 +/- 0.6 vs 3.5 +/- 0.4 kg, p < 0.05). Coexisting IBS did not increase the risk of having any of the dyspeptic symptoms but the overall symptom severity was significantly higher in FD + IBS (12.4 +/- 0.4 vs 9.8 +/- 0.3, p < 0.01). FD + IBS patients had a lower threshold for first perception (2.9 +/- 0.3 vs 3.8 +/- 0.3 mmHg, p < 0.05) and for discomfort (7.9 +/- 0.4 vs 9.5 +/- 0.5 mmHg, p < 0.05) and a greater prevalence of hypersensitivity to gastric distention (44%vs 28%, p < 0.05). Gastric emptying, accommodation to a meal, and prevalence of H. pylori infection did not differ in the two groups. CONCLUSION: About half of the FD patients fulfill the Rome II criteria for IBS. FD + IBS is more prevalent in female patients and is associated with a higher weight loss, with greater overall symptom severity, and with hypersensitivity to distention.

Clinical and pathophysiological characteristics of acute-onset functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Functional bowel disorders may follow acute intestinal infection. In animals, postinflammatory dysmotility is associated with nitrergic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize patients with presumed postinfectious dyspepsia (PD) compared with unspecified-onset dyspepsia (UD). METHODS: A total of 400 consecutive dyspeptic patients filled out a questionnaire to assess whether their symptoms were of postinfectious origin. They underwent testing for Helicobacter pylori infection as well as gastric emptying and gastric barostat studies. Pharmacological studies of nitrergic gastric function were performed in controls, in patients with presumed PD, and in patients with UD using sumatriptan, an activator of nitrergic neurons, and amylnitrite, a nitric oxide donor. RESULTS: Presumed PD was present in 17% of the patients and associated with more prevalent early satiety, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting compared with UD. Both groups did not differ in H. pylori infection, gastric emptying, or gastric sensitivity. Impaired accommodation was significantly more prevalent in patients with presumed PD (67% vs. 30%; P < 0.05). Sumatriptan relaxed the stomach in controls and patients with UD but not in patients with presumed PD, whereas amyl nitrite relaxed the stomach in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS: A subset of dyspeptic patients has a history suggestive of postinfectious dyspepsia. These patients have a high prevalence of impaired accommodation attributable to a dysfunction at the level of gastric nitrergic neurons.

Heterogeneity of symptom pattern, psychosocial factors, and pathophysiological mechanisms in severe functional dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Categorization of functional dyspepsia into subgroups is based on expert opinion according to (dominant) symptoms or on underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. We used an evidence-based approach to the determination of subtypes of functional dyspepsia. METHODS: Consecutive functional dyspepsia patients were recruited from a tertiary referral center. The following were performed: (1) exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of symptom patterns in a large group of patients with functional dyspepsia; (2) external validation of these factors by the determination of their association pattern with physio- and psychopathological mechanisms, and with health-related quality of life and sickness behavior; and (3) cluster analysis of their distribution in this population. RESULTS: Both EFA and CFA do not support the existence of functional dyspepsia as a homogeneous (unidimensional) condition. A 4-factor model is found to be valid, with differential distribution within the patient population according to cluster analysis. Factor 1 is characterized by nausea, vomiting, early satiety, and weight loss and factor 2 by postprandial fullness and bloating. Both factor 1 and 2 are associated with delayed emptying, but only factor 1 is associated with younger age, female sex, and sickness behavior. Factor 3 is characterized by pain symptoms and associated with gastric hypersensitivity and several psychosocial dimensions including medically unexplained symptoms and health-related quality of life dimensions. Factor 4, characterized by belching, is also associated with hypersensitivity, but is unrelated to psychosocial dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: In a tertiary care population, functional dyspepsia is a heterogeneous condition characterized by 4 major dimensions differentially associated with psychopathological and physiopathological mechanisms.