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. 2024 Jan 1;119(1):165-175.
doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002500. Epub 2023 Sep 18.

Global Prevalence of Psychological Distress and Comorbidity With Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions

Inês A Trindade  1   2 , Jóhann P Hreinsson  1 , Chloé Melchior  1   3   4 , Joost P Algera  1 , Esther Colomier  1   5 , Hans Törnblom  1 , Douglas Drossman  6 , Jan Tack  1   5 , Olafur S Palsson  6 , Shrikant I Bangdiwala  7   8 , Ami D Sperber  9 , Magnus Simrén  1   6
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Global Prevalence of Psychological Distress and Comorbidity With Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions

Inês A Trindade et al. Am J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Introduction: This study focused on defining the global prevalence of clinically relevant levels of psychological distress and somatic symptoms and the prevalence of coexistence between these symptoms and disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). We also analyzed how clinically relevant psychological distress and somatic symptoms and coexistent DGBI are associated with health-related outcomes.

Methods: We included a representative sample of 54,127 adult participants (49.1% women; mean age of 44.3 years) from 26 countries worldwide. Participants completed an Internet survey (the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study) with validated self-report questionnaires.

Results: Clinically relevant psychological distress and/or somatic symptom severity was reported by 37.5% of the sample. These participants had 4.45 times higher odds to have at least one DGBI than individuals without psychological distress and/or somatic symptoms. Compared with participants with psychological distress and/or somatic symptoms with vs without DGBI, participants with a DGBI reported increased healthcare and medication utilization (with OR from 1.6 to 2.8). Coexistent DGBI in participants with psychological distress and/or somatic symptoms was the variable most strongly associated with reduced mental (β = -0.77; confidence interval [-0.86 to -0.68]) and physical (β = -1.17; confidence interval [-1.24 to -1.10]) quality of life.

Discussion: This global study shows that psychological distress, somatic symptoms, and DGBI are very common and frequently overlap. The coexistence between psychological distress/somatic symptoms and DGBI seems to be especially detrimental to quality of life and healthcare utilization. Individuals with psychological distress/somatic symptoms and DGBI coexistence seem to be a group vulnerable to psychosocial problems that should be studied further and would likely benefit from psychological/psychiatric interventions.

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