Watson R G, Younge R J, Lewis S A, Love A H
Dept. of Medicine, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Scand J Gastroenterol. 1987 Sep;22(7):821-6. doi: 10.3109/00365528708991921.
Psychologic and social factors have been implicated in the aetiology of dyspepsia. In this study these factors were investigated in relation to flatulent dyspepsia, a symptom complex that has traditionally been associated with gallbladder disease. Subjects completed the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire and the Life Events Inventory and were interviewed in detail, using a semi-structured format. Three groups of patients with flatulent dyspepsia--those with and without gallbladder disease and post-cholecystectomy--all had significantly more associated somatic symptoms than non-dyspeptic subjects with gallbladder disease or normal controls, thus indicating greater emotional upset amongst dyspeptic patients. There was little evidence that symptoms were related to stressful life events.
