Anxiety and depression in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and their effect on quality of life

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG Vol. 21; no. 14; pp. 4302 - 4309
• Main Authors: Yang, Xiao-Jun, Jiang, Hong-Mei, Hou, Xiao-Hua, Song, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Baishideng Publishing Group Inc 14.04.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety - diagnosis; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety;Depression;Gastroesophageal; Case-Control Studies; China - epidemiology; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; disease; Female; Gastroesophageal Reflux - diagnosis; Gastroesophageal Reflux - epidemiology; Gastroesophageal Reflux - psychology; Health Status; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Prospective Study; Quality of Life; reflux; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; China; Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale; Depression; Anxiety; Quality of life; SF-36
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i14.4302

AIM: To explore the role of psychological factors in gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) and their effect on quality of life(Qo L) of GERD patients.METHODS: A total of 279 consecutive patients with typical symptoms and 100 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.All of the participants wereevaluated with the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(ZSAS), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale(ZSDS) and the SF-36 questionnaire.The scores for anxiety, depression and Qo L of the two groups were analyzed.The correlation between psychological factors and Qo L was also analyzed.RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls(34.70 ± 8.00), the scores of ZSAS in the non-erosive reflux disease( N E R D) group(48.27±10.34) and the reflux esophagitis(RE) group(45.38 ± 10.27) were significantly higher(P < 0.001).The mean ZSAS score of the NERD group was significantly higher than that of the RE group(P = 0.01).Compared with healthy controls(37.61 ± 8.44), the mean ZSDS scores were significantly higher in the NERD group(49.65 ± 11.09, P < 0.001) and the RE group(46.76 ± 11.83, P < 0.001).All dimensions of the SF-36 form were negatively correlated with the SAS and SDS scores in patients with NERD and RE(P < 0.05).According to the S F- 3 6 form, vitality, mentalhealth and social functioning were significantly correlated with symptoms of depression in patients with NERD and RE.General health was obviously affected by symptoms of depression in patients with NERD(P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Anxiety and depression may play an important role in the occurrence of GERD and especially that of NERD.The Qo L of patients with GERD is reduced by anxiety and depression.