Korean J Psychosom Med.  2012 Dec;20(2):135-138.

Effect of Duloxetine in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder : In the Perspective of 'Brain-Gut Axis'

• Lee SS
• Park SS

Abstract

The pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorder(FGID) is not completely understood, but the importance of the 'Brain-Gut Axis(BGA)' model in FGID is being increasingly recognized. The BGA model is a bidirectional, hard-wired and homeostatic relationship between the central nervous system(CNS) and the enteric nervous system(ENS) via neural, neurohormonal and neuroimmunological pathways. In addition, the BGA model would provide a rationale for the use of psychotropics on FGID. The authors experienced two cases in which duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, was effective in relieving FGID symptoms as well as psychiatric symptoms such as depression and hypochondriacal anxiety. Therefore we discuss the vignettes from the perspective of BGA theory. Duloxetine showed efficacy in these two patients by reducing visceral hypersensivity (bottom-up regulation) and by relieving depression and anxiety(top-down regulation).

Keyword

Functional gastrointestinal disorder; Brain-gut axis; Duloxetine; Irritable bowel syndrome

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Depression
Gastrointestinal Diseases
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Thiophenes
Thiophenes