FREQUENCY OF DEPRESSION IN FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA PATIENTS PRESENTING TO A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of depression in functional dyspepsia
patients.
Methodology: 247 patients satisfying Rome III definition of functional dyspepsia
were assessed for depression applying NICE criteria for diagnosis of
depression. Subjects with alarm features in history and examination were excluded
as well as patients with any co morbid condition to reduce bias. The
patients were put into various groups depending upon patient's predominant
symptoms. The frequency of depression was assessed in dyspeptic patients.
Furthermore strength of association was also checked between various variables
and depression in dyspeptic patients.
Results: Among 247 patients, 107 patients were female and 140 patients
were male. Mean age and mean duration of illness was 35.84±11 years and
2.33±2.38 years respectively. Epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) was present in
28.9% of the patients, postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) was present in
28.5% of the patients and 42.7% had both the symptoms. Depression was
diagnosed in 75.3% of functional dyspepsia patients. We found significant
association between female gender and depression with a p value of 0.009.
In univariate analysis significant association was again found between female
gender and depression (OR 2.32, p value 0.01) but duration of the disease and
dyspepsia group had no association.
Conclusion: Frequency of depression was found high in functional dyspepsia
patients. Therefore every functional dyspepsia patient should be thoroughly
assessed for depression.