Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.
J Trop Pediatr. 2010 Jun;56(3):144-8. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmp077. Epub 2009 Aug 20.
Emotional stress is associated with some functional gastrointestinal diseases, but its role in aetiology of functional constipation is unclear. This island-wide, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the association between constipation and emotional stress, in 10-16-year-olds. Constipation was defined using Rome III criteria. Out of 2699 children included in the analysis, 416 (15.4%) had constipation. Constipation was higher in those exposed to stressful events (odds ratio 2.52, p < 0.0001). Separation from the best friend, failure in an examination, severe illness of a family member, loss of job by a parent, frequent punishment by parents and living in an area affected by separatist war remained independently associated with constipation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, constipation was significantly higher in children exposed to stressful life events. Modulation of gut motility through brain-gut axis probably alters colonic transit and ano-rectal functions, causing constipation.
情绪压力与一些功能性胃肠疾病有关，但它在功能性便秘发病机制中的作用尚不清楚。本项全岛范围、基于问卷的、横断面研究旨在评估情绪压力与便秘之间的关联，研究对象为 10-16 岁青少年。采用罗马 III 标准定义便秘。在纳入分析的 2699 名儿童中，有 416 名（15.4%）患有便秘。暴露于应激事件的儿童中便秘的发生率更高（比值比 2.52，p<0.0001）。与便秘相关的应激事件包括与最好的朋友分离、考试失败、家庭成员重病、父母失业、经常被父母惩罚和生活在受分裂主义战争影响的地区（p<0.05）。总之，暴露于应激性生活事件的儿童中便秘的发生率显著更高。通过脑-肠轴调节肠道运动可能会改变结肠传输和肛门直肠功能，导致便秘。
