A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of depressive, anxiety disorder in outpatients with irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia in urban China / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives This study was to describe the prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety symptom and disorder in outpatients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional dyspepsia (FD) in the comprehensive hospitals in big cities, China. Methods This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted in three main cities in China in 2004. Six hundred and eight eligible subjects with IBS or FD were recruited consecutively from the outpatient departments within 3 months. Face-to-face interview was used in data collection together with the self-completed HAD scale for depressive and/or anxiety symptom screening. Subjects getting a HAD score of 9 and above were further assessed for depressive and/or anxiety disorders with HAMA scales and HAMD scales by the licensed psychologists or psychiatrists. Results The prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms was 24. 8% and 23. 6% respectively in outpatients with IBS or FD. And among detected depressive and/or anxiety symptoms, the prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety disorder was 69. 6% and 68. 7% respectively; Less than 12% of subjects had obtained a diagnosis of depressive disorders and been treated, and less than 8% of subjects had obtained a diagnosis of anxiety disorders and been treated prior to the investigation. The prevalence of anxiety symptom in female patients with IBS was significantly higher than male patients (17. 0% vs. 8. 7%; X2=4. 432,P = 0. 035); among detected depressive and/or anxiety symptoms, the prevalence of depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive and anxiety disorder and depressive and/or anxiety dis order in female patients with IBS were higher than those in male patients (52. 6%vs. 25. 0% ,X2 = 4. 612, P=0. 032; 79. 5% vs. 53. 8%,X2=4. 815, P = 0. 028; 51. 4% vs. 21. 7%,X2=5. 112,P = 0. 024; 78. 6% vs. 55. 6%,X2=4. 112,P = 0. 043). Conclusions It is important for healthcare providers and health policy makers to note that the prevalence of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms and depressive and/or anxiety disorders are high and the percentages of previous diagnosis and treatment in outpatients with somatic diseases in general hospitals of urban China are rather low.