Neurotic butterflies in my stomach: The role of anxiety, anxiety sensitivity and depression in functional gastrointestinal disorders

This study examined the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal (FGI) dis orders, and the association between FGI disorders and measures of affective distress, among a sample of 127 university students. Subjects completed a questionnaire battery including Research Diagnostic Questions for Functiona l Gastrointestinal Disorders, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Anxiety Sensi tivity Index, the Beck Depression Inventory, and a medical utilization ques tionnaire. FGI disorders were diagnosed in 51.2% of the sample. Functional dyspepsia (22.8%), dyschezia (20.5%), functional heartburn (19.7%), functio nal chest pain (18.1%), and globus (12.6%) were the most frequently diagnos ed disorders. Participants experiencing globus, functional dyspepsia, or fu nctional heartburn showed significant differences in terms of anxiety, anxi ety sensitivity, depression, and/or physician visits, when compared with pa rticipants without these disorders. Our results suggest that FGI disorders are strikingly prevalent among young adults, and specific FGI disorders are associated with affective distress. Implications of the observed associati on between psychological factors and FGI disorders are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.