European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

COMPARISON OF MENTAL HEALTH IN PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE

Forouzan Behrouzian, Sorour Nematpour, Pezhman Alavinejad and Reihane Nasiri*

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In many studies, connection between psychological factors and peptic ulcer disease considered but isn’t consensus about this issue. This study was carried out aimed to compare the mental health in people with and without peptic ulcer disease (PUD) considering gender differences. Material and methods: This study was a case-control study. Case group included 30 patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD). The disease of the members of this group was confirmed by endoscopy and by a gastroenterologist. The control group included 30 people without peptic ulcer disease (PUD), who was selected from among the companions of the patients referred for endoscopy, and they had no PUD or other known digestive diseases. Data collection tool in this study was SCL-90 questionnaire and demographic questionnaire. Finally, the data was analyzed. Results: Some common psychological problems in these patients included psychosomatic, depression, sensitivity in reciprocal relations, obsession and compulsion, aggression, and anxiety. significant relationship was observed between these 6 dimensions and PUD. There was no significant relationship between PUD and paranoid thoughts, phobia and psychosis. Psychological problems in women were significantly more than men with PUD. In 60% of people with PUD, PUD was diagnosed at least one of the first-degree relatives. In 40% of people with PUD, at least one of the first-degree relatives was suffering from gastrointestinal malignancies. Conclusion: According the results of this study, high prevalence of psychological problems in people with PUD makes necessary paying attention to these problems and doing psychological interventions, if necessary.

Keywords: Peptic ulcer disease, mental health, SCL-90 questionnaire.