Depressive trends in patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints.

Choi, Jae Dong; Cho, Choo Yon

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine 1991;12(1):80-87.
Published online January 1, 1991.

Depressive trends in patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints.

Jae Dong Choi, Choo Yon Cho

상부소화기 증상 환자의 우울성향

조주연, 최재동

순천향대학교의과대학 가정의학과

Abstract

It has been known that many medically ill patients have psychological problems, such as depression or anxiety. Many have attempted to define these problems objectively and several self-rating devices for depression or anxiety have been developed. In order to measure depth and prevalence of depression that is often unrecognized by physicians and to analyze each type of depression, this study was performed in family medicine department of an university hospital from January 1990 to May 1990.
Two hundred completed a questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory(BDI). Charts reviews were then conducted and following results were obtained.
1. The mean BDI score of the patients was 17.7.
2. More higher BDI scores of the patients according to each type of general consensus have reported by females, lower educational groups and lower social classes.
3. Categorized as depression were 59 outpatients when the tentative cut off score was 21.
4. The BDI score of primary depression group was higher than secondary depression group.
This study not only shows the importance of somatization in the depression, but also suggests the benefits of a screening questionnaire and a diagnostic tool.