Distinct associations of DSM-5 Somatic Symptom Disorder, the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research-Revised (DCPR-R) and symptom severity in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: The clinical management of high symptom severity is a challenging task with patients with functional somatic disorders. We investigated the extent to which DCPR-revised (DCPR-R) syndromes and the DSM-5 category of Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) were able to predict symptom severity in 203 consecutive tertiary care patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Method: Semistructured interview were used for assessing DCPR-R and validated scales for SSD (combining PHQ-12 and WI-7), severity of symptoms (IBS-SSS), psychological distress (HADS), and psychosocial functioning (SF-12).

Chronic functional constipation is strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency.

Background: Few studies have examined intestinal motility disorders, which are disabling conditions associated with chronic functional constipation, whose pathogenesis is actually not well-defined.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and functional chronic constipation associated to intestinal motility disorders.

Methods: We performed a prospective case-control study, from May-June to November 2017.

Tailored therapy guided by multichannel intraluminal impedance pH monitoring for refractory non-erosive reflux disease.

A relevant percentage of non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) is refractory to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) treatment. Multichannel intraluminal impedance pH (MII-pH) monitoring should give useful pathophysiological information about refractoriness. Therefore, our aim was to assess whether this technique could be useful to guide a 'tailored' therapy in refractory NERD.

The role of alexithymia and gastrointestinal-specific anxiety as predictors of treatment outcome in irritable bowel syndrome.

In a previous investigation irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was associated more to alexithymia than gastrointestinal-specific anxiety (GSA). In this study their independent contribution in predicting treatment outcome was longitudinally investigated. Consecutive 150 IBS patients were evaluated for IBS symptoms, alexithymia, GSA, and psychological distress with validated scales after as-usual treatment for 6-12months.

Alexithymia and gastrointestinal-specific anxiety in moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: Gastrointestinal-specific anxiety (GSA) and alexithymia are two psychological constructs that may contribute to severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We aimed to investigate their independent contribution in predicting the level of severity in a group of patients with moderate to severe IBS.

Method: A sample of 177 consecutive IBS patients (49.

Non-fearful panic disorder in gastroenterology.

Background: Nonfearful panic disorder (NFPD) is a panic condition masked under the appearance of somatic symptoms only, without the component of fear, and it represents a challenging diagnostic task.

Method: This is the first case report of NFPD in a male patient with acute gastric pain and gastrointestinal disease (atrophic gastritis and H. pylori infection).

Prediction of treatment outcome of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders by the diagnostic criteria for psychosomatic research.

Background: The Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR) have been demonstrated to be useful in identifying specific psychological conditions of medical patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical utility of the DCPR in predicting the treatment outcome of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID).

Methods: FGID outpatients were allocated to improved (n = 65) and unimproved (n = 40) groups on the basis of preestablished criteria following 6 months of treatment.

Alexithymia and psychopathology in patients with psychiatric and functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: Alexithymia and psychopathology may influence the way individuals experience psychological distress and somatic symptoms. This study evaluated patients referred to psychiatric and gastroenterologic outpatient settings in order to investigate the levels of alexithymia and psychopathology, and the possible role of alexithymia in symptom perception and health care utilization. The association between psychiatric disorders and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) was also assessed.

Alexithymia as predictor of treatment outcome in patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Objective: A previous study found a strong association between alexithymia and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). The objective of this study was to investigate whether alexithymia might be a predictor of treatment outcome in patients with FGID.

Methods: A group of FGID outpatients classified by the 'Rome I' criteria was divided into improved (N= 68) and unimproved (N= 44) groups on the basis of pre-established criteria after 6 months of treatment.