Latent Dysphoria in the Structure of Emotional Disorders in Patients with Functional Constipation

Psychoemotional disturbances are an important component of the functional gastrointestinal disorders. It was suggested that Latent Dysphoria along with anxiety and depression are important features of negative emotions in patients with functional constipation (FC) and it has a major impact on social functioning. 60 women with FC according to the IV Rome criteria, aged from 18 to 62 (34.72±11.43 years) and duration of the disease ― 12.84±11.34 years were included into the study. The assessment of emotional disorders and quality of life was performed by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Hamilton Depression Scale, the four-dimensional questionnaire (4DSQ), SF-36 Questionnaire, new Latent Dysphoria Checklist. The assessment of the severity of somatic symptoms was carried out using methods accepted in the practice of gastroenterologists. Results: 73% of patients showed increased anxiety, 50% ― signs of depression. Latent dysphoria by Latent Dysphoria Checklist was found in 48% of patients. The patients were divided into two subgroups according to the presence / absence of the latent dysphoria. There was no difference in severity of somatic symptoms between subgroups. As for emotional disturbances the difference was found. Indicators of emotional disturbances (anxiety, distress, depression, somatization) were significantly higher in the subgroup of patients with latent dysphoria (p<0.05) and the quality of life indicators ― significantly lower (p<0.05). Thus, our findings support the hypothesis that emotional disturbances in women with FC include latent dysphoria together with anxiety and depression. This complex but not severity of somatic symptoms negatively affects social functioning. The main limitations of the study are as follows: the small sample size, the absence of a comparison group, and the inapplicability of the findings for the male population. The study of the prevalence and specificity of latent dysphoria in other pathological conditions will be the subjects of the further research.

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