Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

although this is on depression, there are very clear known connections on anxiety, stress, depression and pain and also bowel symptoms.

Not ony that but a major implicator player in IBS is serotonin, again which the majority of is stored in the gut.

The Pain-Depression Conundrum: Bridging the Body and Mind

"Introduction
Pain and depression seem to go hand in hand. What person with intractable pain would not, understandably, be depressed? Yet the relationship of these conditions is complex and unpredictable. Indeed, people in pain are not invariably depressed, although approximately one third of patients with pain do experience comorbid depression. By contrast, three fourths of those with depression will present with physical symptoms, including pain.

Certainly, individuals with pain-related disorders are at risk for depression.[1-6] In fact, some research suggests that pain can be the best indicator of depression, especially among the elderly.[7] A number of studies also suggest that depression can augment the impairment associated with pain. In a 24-month study of 228 elderly patients with depression or pain living in retirement communities,[8] Mossey and colleagues[9] evaluated the severity of depression and pain and their impact on functional activity. Initially, almost 50% of the patients who did not suffer depression reported limitations associated with their pain. Over the course of 2 years, however, people who began experiencing depressive symptoms also began reporting more impairment associated with the pain. In addition, high levels of depression were consistently associated with high levels of pain-associated impairment, and in the presence of pain, even low levels of depression were associated with increased healthcare utilization.[10]

The relationship between pain and depression clearly is complex and still emerging. Recent research shows that serotonin and norepinephrine may modulate pain as well as mood. Understanding the shared pathophysiology of these phenomena will help clinicians to manage both conditions and ultimately help their patients to achieve remission. This Clinical Update will detail the epidemiologic, neurobiologic, and pharmacologic correlates of pain and depression. "

Pain and Depression in Primary Care
Painful or uncomfortable physical symptoms are among the most common reasons individuals seek medical care. In a recent study, 107 HMO participants were asked to record all symptoms they experienced during a given 3-week period.[11] The results revealed that each person experienced at least 1 symptom, including backache, headache, or stomach pain, every 3-4 days. Yet patients reported less than 6% of these problems to a physician.

When and why, then, do people bring their aches and pains to the doctor? Evidence suggests that people seek out medical care when symptoms become worrisome, interfere with their daily lives, or are disabling. In addition, studies show that when depression, anxiety, panic, or other psychiatric conditions are present, symptoms are more likely to reach this threshold.[12-17] In fact, persons who seek healthcare for fatigue, migraine headaches, and gastrointestinal complaints experience more stressful life events, more distress, and are more likely to have an anxiety or depressive disorder than are those who do not seek care.[18,19]

Several studies of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) poignantly demonstrate the role of psychiatric disorders in healthcare-seeking behavior for corporeal aches and pains. Drossman and colleagues[14-16] studied 72 patients with IBS who sought medical care, 82 persons with IBS who had not sought medical care, and 84 healthy subjects. They found that patients with IBS who seek care and those with IBS who do not seek care experience the same symptoms. However, IBS patients who seek help from a physician are significantly more likely to have psychiatric disorders, abnormal personality patterns, and more life stress.

In fact, evidence suggests that half of all high medical care users are psychologically distressed. What specific psychiatric disorders are most common among this group? According to a study by Katon and colleagues,[12] 40% have depressive disorders, 22% have generalized anxiety disorder, 20% have somatization disorders, 12% have panic disorder, and 5% are alcohol abusers.

Statistics on the relationship between specific common physical symptoms and psychiatric disorders in primary care patients illustrate the pervasiveness of this comorbidity. Kroenke and colleagues[17] found that the presence of any physical symptom increased the likelihood of a diagnosis of a mood or anxiety disorder by as much as 3-fold. Furthermore, 34% of patients with joint or limb pain, 38% of patients with back pain, 40% of patients with headache, 46% of patients with chest pain, and 43% of patients with abdominal pain also had a mood disorder.

While psychological problems may be prevalent among high healthcare users, what specific symptoms prompt most patients to seek out medical care? Physical symptoms account for half of all primary care physician visits.[20] And while physical symptoms restrict the activities of Americans an average of 9.7 days annually, most of these physical manifestations are never explained by a disease or injury (Figures 1, 2). "

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/441743_2

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My website on IBS is www.ibshealth.com

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