Psychosocial Assessment of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Functional gastrointestinal disorders are the most common conditions encountered in gastroenterology practice and are also commonly encountered in primary care. Psychosocial factors play an important role in these disorders (along with any chronic digestive disorder) by influencing healthcare seeking, illness behavior, symptom severity, quality of life, and digestive motility and sensation. Identification of relevant psychosocial factors in patients with chronic digestive disorders influences care and is a critical determinant of outcomes. This article provides a review of relevant psychosocial variables, assessment techniques, and therapeutic suggestions that can be of value in assessing patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

A population‐based study of associations between functional gastrointestinal disorders and psychosocial characteristics in Xi'an, China

“…It is known that FGIDs are a result of complex interactions among biological, psychological, and social factors . Social or cultural factors are crucial to the understanding, assessment, and treatment outcomes of FGIDs, and various neuroendocrine pathways have been implicated in stress‐induced alterations in FGIDs . Early adverse life events have been suggested as a predictor of health‐related quality of life in FGIDs patients .…”

The organisation of the stress response, and its relevance to chiropractors: a commentary

“…A review by Siegrist and Marmot discusses psychosocial variables as causative, aggravating, and perpetuating factors for the stress response, as well as stress implicating elevated psychosocial variables [ 146 ]. The stress response has been associated with the propagation of numerous disorders including: dermatological [ 147 ], cardiovascular [ 148 , 149 ], diabetic [ 150 ], Hepatic [ 151 ], immune [ 152 ], thyroid [ 153 ], gastrointestinal [ 154 , 155 ], reproductive [ 156 - 158 ], renal [ 159 ], metabolic [ 160 ], rheumatic [ 161 ] and musculoskeletal [ 162 , 163 ].…”

Constipation: More than Just “A Symptom”

“…So, I continued, "Sir, those people who are anxious with every small random events are much higher (50% or even more) at risk of developing functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGD) such as constipation or non-ulcer dyspepsia" [10,11]. A study by Chattat et al showed that constipated patients had higher psychological distress compared to healthy subjects [12].…”