Biomedical subjects

T Tangen Haug

Publications and source records attributed to T Tangen Haug.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Are anxiety and depression related to gastrointestinal symptoms in the general population?

BACKGROUND: In clinical studies there is a strong relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety and depression. The results may be biased, however, since anxiety and depression will influence the decision to consult a doctor. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these symptoms in the population. METHODS: In the Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag County of Norway (HUNT) a questionnaire concerning physical and mental health, demographic and life-style factors was sent to all inhabitants aged 20 years and above (a total of 94,197 persons). Valid questionnaires were returned by 62,651 persons (66.5%). Presence of nausea, heartburn, diarrhoea and constipation during the last year was self-reported. Anxiety disorders and depression were based on self-ratings of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: 48% of the population reported one or more of the four gastrointestinal symptoms. Based on the HADS ratings, 15.3% of the population had an anxiety disorder and 10.4% a depression. Anxiety disorder was most strongly associated with nausea (OR 3.42). Anxiety was also associated with heartburn, diarrhoea and constipation, but weaker than with nausea. Depression was less strongly associated with the four gastrointestinal symptoms. Demographic factors, life-style factors and extra-gastrointestinal complaints could not explain the effect of anxiety disorders and depression on these gastrointestinal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: In this population study there was a strong relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety disorders and depression. These findings suggest that mental disorders in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms are not merely a consequence of selection bias in patient materials but connected to the symptoms themselves.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Helicobacter pylori in functional dyspepsia and normal controls.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine whether Helicobacter pylori status can identify a specific subset of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) and erosive prepyloric changes (EPC). METHODS: Anamnestic, somatic, and psychologic data were collected from 87 patients with functional dyspepsia and 77 normal control persons. Presence of H. pylori infection was assessed by the 14C-urea breath test. RESULTS: H. pylori infection increased with age. Thirty-four per cent of the patients were H. pylori-positive, compared with 36% of the control persons. The patients had higher scores than the normal control persons on psychologic measures regardless of H. pylori status. Of 27 variables analyzed, age was the only factor that discriminated between H. pylori-positive and -negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: For most patients with FD and EPC the presence of H. pylori infection is probably a consequence of age, and it does not seem to help us in the search for factors that can identify a subset of patients within our group of FD patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) in a Norwegian material of patients with functional dyspepsia, duodenal ulcer, and urinary bladder dysfunction. Clinical validation of the instrument.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing interest in the psychosocial impact of a disease, but few instruments available to measure it. METHODS: The internal consistency and construct validity of the Norwegian translation of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) was examined in a total of 557 patients. RESULTS: The seven dimensions of the psychosocial adjustment to medical illness from the original test were represented in the Norwegian translation. Psychologic distress, social environment, and vocational environment explained most of the variance. The instrument had high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of > 0.75 on six of seven subscales. The PAIS-SR differentiated between groups of patients with urologic and upper gastrointestinal disease and seemed to give meaningful and useful clinical data. Patients with functional dyspepsia (n = 97) had higher score on psychologic distress than the other groups, whereas patients with duodenal ulcer (n = 97) were significantly less affected in their social life than the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: The Norwegian translation of the PAIS-SR had high internal consistency, acceptable construct validity, and good discriminating validity.

Adolescent↗