Abstract
Two multi-focused studies using subjective and objective measurements were carried out so as to clarify the relationship between sleep disturbance and gastrointestinal symptoms. The subject of each study was patient with functional dyspepsia (FD) and patient with psychiatric disorders (PD) of our clinics. As the result of the study regarding patients with FD, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) did not correlate to gastrointestinal motility and abnormal gastric perception, measured by ^<13>C-acetate breathe test and drink test. Whereas, there were significant correlations between Gastro-intestinal Symptom Rating Score (GSRS), psychological scales (STAT and SDS) and PSQI score. In addition, the somatization score of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL90R : psychological symptom scale) was strongly related to FD diagnosis using the binary logistic analysis. On the other hand, as the result of the other study in terms of 128 patients with PD, the total GSRS score was significantly higher than that of healthy subjects and correlated to the total PSQI score (r=0.396, p<0.01). GSRS subscales besides diarrhea also correlated to the PSQI score. Moreover, Global Severity Index of the SCL90R was significantly correlated with PSQI score and GSRS total score (r=0.364, p<0.01). However, GSRS score did not correlate to equivalent dosages of antipsychotics, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and antiparkinsonian. Therefore, our findings suggested that the reciprocal relationships could exist between gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep disturbance, and psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, these mutual relations might be affected by dysfunctions of immune system and HPA-axis, which were reported as the mechanisms that may cause somatization.
