No difference in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome between healthy subjects and patients with recurrent depression in remission

  1. P. Karling1,
  2. Å. Danielsson1,
  3. R. Adolfsson2,
  4. K.-f. Norrback2

Article first published online: 18 JUL 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2007.00967.x

Issue

Neurogastroenterology & Motility

Neurogastroenterology & Motility

Volume 19, Issue 11, pages 896–904, November 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Karling, P., Danielsson, Å., Adolfsson, R. and Norrback, K.-f. (2007), No difference in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome between healthy subjects and patients with recurrent depression in remission. Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 19: 896–904. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2007.00967.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Medicine/Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden

  2. 2

    Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Umeå, Umeå and Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of Sunderbyn, Luleå, Sweden

*Pontus Karling, Department of Medicine/Gastroenterology, Umeå University hospital, S-90185 Umeå, Sweden. Tel: +46 90 785 0000; fax: +46 90 143 986; e-mail: Pontus.karling@vll.se

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 5 NOV 2007
  2. Article first published online: 18 JUL 2007
  3. Received: 25 January 2007 Accepted for publication: 9 May 2007

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Keywords:

  • antidepressant;
  • brain-gut axis;
  • gastro- intestinal symptoms;
  • Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale;
  • irritable bowel syndrome;
  • recurrent depression

Abstract  There is bidirectional comorbidity between anxiety/depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). To investigate the prevalence of IBS symptoms, and factors associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with recurrent depressive disorder. Patients (n = 95) with recurrent type of major depression according to DSM-IV criteria and sex- and age-matched controls (n = 190) were sent questionnaires investigating symptoms of IBS [Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)-IBS] and symptoms of anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. Medical records were checked over a 10-year period for chronic somatic symptoms or diseases. Seventy-three patients with unipolar disorder (mean age 63.6 years SD 13.8; range 23–86 years) and 156 controls (mean age 59.2 years SD 11.6, range 21–85 years) responded. Patients with recurrent depression had higher GSRS-IBS scores and showed a strong correlation between symptoms of IBS and anxiety-depression (rs = 0.54; P < 0.001). IBS symptoms were also associated with multiple pain symptoms, higher health-seeking behaviour and selective-serotonin-reuptake inhibitor intake. However, patients with recurrent depression (n = 46) in remission (HADS-Depression score <8) did not have more symptoms of IBS than controls (GSRS-IBS median score 6.0 vs 6.5; P = 0.46). There is a strong association between symptoms of IBS and symptoms of anxiety and depression, whereas depressive patients in remission do not have more IBS symptoms than controls.

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