Non Ulcer Dyspepsia and Its Correlation with Life Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Non ulcer dyspepsia is essentially a diagnosis of organic disease exclusion. Non ulcer dyspepsia falls under the rubric of functional bowel disorder. Life stress, anxiety and depression may be important to the onset or exacerbation of this condition. The effect of life stress, anxiety and depression on non ulcer dyspepsia vary from region to region and group of population. Patients who had dyspepsia and undergone successful upper G.I. endoscopy at the M.G.M. Medical College, M.Y. Hospital, Gastroenterology Unit, between January 1997 and November 1997 and showed no organic lesion were tested for life stress, anxiety and depression. They were compared with healthy persons of comparable age. sex and social status on scales of life stress, anxiety and depression. Of the 38 patients with non ulcer dyspepsia, 26 (68%) experienced undesirable events, 35 (92%) significant anxiety Undesirable life events were statistically insignificant and anxiety was significantly related to non ulcer dyspepsia While other psychological variable, depression was seen in all 38 (100%) cases, but was not statistically related to non ulcer dyspepsia.