J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2012 Jul;18(3):284-290.

The Relationship Between Existence of Typical Symptoms and Psychological Factors in Patients With Erosive Esophagitis

• Lee SP
• Lee KN
• Lee OY
• Lee HL
• Choi HS
• Yoon BC
• Jun DW
• Sohn W
• Cho SC

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
In Asian countries including Korea, the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is on the rise and its clinical impact has been emphasized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of esophagitis patients with or without symptoms, and their association with psychological factors.
METHODS
Subjects diagnosed as erosive esophagitis of Los Angeles-A or more in screening by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were enrolled. Questionnaires regarding GERD symptoms and Symptom Checklist-90-Revision were used to identify the presence of psychological symptoms.
RESULTS
There was no difference between the subjects' general characteristics (gender, age, body mass index, smoking and alcohol intake) according to the existence of typical symptoms in these patients with erosive esophagitis. Patients with typical GERD symptoms were more likely to have atypical symptoms, dyspepsia and higher scores on psychological symptoms (somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness and phobic anxiety) than those without.
CONCLUSIONS
Psychological symptoms and other gastrointestinal symptoms should be considered in the patients with erosive esophagitis.

Keyword

Eosphagitis; Gastroesophageal reflux; Psychological test

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Body Mass Index
Dyspepsia
Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal
Esophagitis
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Humans
Korea
Mass Screening
Prevalence
Psychological Tests
Surveys and Questionnaires
Smoke
Smoking
Smoke