gastrins and Psychophysiologic-Disorders

Topics: Central Nervous System; Cerebral Cortex; Digestion; Duodenal Ulcer; Eating; Emotions; Endopeptidases; Gastric Juice; Gastric Mucosa; Gastrins; Humans; Pepsinogens; Peptic Ulcer; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Stomach; Stomach Ulcer

A group of 13 consecutive regularly menstruating women who gained at least 5 kg the previous year (Group I) was compared to a control group of similar age, parity, and social class (Group II). The two groups were similar in estimated and observed food intakes; pre- and postprandial gastrin levels; hourly 24-h profiles of cortisol and insulin; urinary cortisol and 17-hydroxycorticosteroids. Group I had higher serum prolactin concentrations at all times than Group II (mean values 14.60 micrograms/l vs. 8.84 micrograms/l; p = .0121). Galactorrhea was observed in 5 women from Group I and in none of the women from Group II (p < .05). Group I also differed from Group II in a higher incidence of meaningful life-events the year preceding the study, higher prevalence of sexual dysfunction (9/13 vs. 4/13; p < .01) and higher indexes (p < .05) of several parameters in the MMPI and SCL 90. Median serum cortisol and prolactin concentrations were negatively correlated, both in Group I (R = -.669; p = .012) and in the whole sample (R = -.453; p = .0298). It is suggested that the rapid weight gain is part of a neuroendocrine response to environmental stimuli also characterized by hyperprolactinemia. The significant negative correlation between serum prolactin and cortisol indicates that this response differs from, and is possibly an alternative to, the sympathoadrenal "stress" response.

Topics: Adult; Energy Intake; Feeding Behavior; Female; Gastrins; Hormones; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Insulin; Life Change Events; Obesity; Personality Assessment; Pituitary Neoplasms; Prolactin; Prolactinoma; Pseudopregnancy; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Reference Values; Stress, Psychological; Weight Gain

The Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) and some dimensions of the Bergman scale reflecting social dependency and self-confidence were used in 24 individuals with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients showed higher scores of somatic anxiety, indirect aggression and irritability and lower scores in socialization when compared with a reference group. The levels of gastrointestinal symptoms as well as the levels of some hormones related to vagal nerve activity in this patient group have been reported in a previous publication. When the scores obtained in personality inventories were related to symptom levels, we found significant correlations with intestinal but not abdominal symptoms. Gastrin levels correlated inversely with socialization. Somatostatin levels on the other hand, correlated negatively with social dependency and positively with self-confidence in the Bergman scale. Interestingly, oxytocin levels correlated positively with social dependency and in addition with indirect aggression and verbal aggression. The correlation between hormone levels and scores of personality dimensions will be interpreted and discussed within a physiological context.

Topics: Adult; Aggression; Arousal; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Hostility; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxytocin; Personality Inventory; Psychometrics; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Psychotherapy, Group; Somatostatin

Twenty-four individuals with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract participated in the study. Symptoms from the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract were recorded by means of a self-administered questionnaire before, 3 months and 3 yr after participation in group therapy. Blood was sampled from the patients while they were subjected to three different provocations (a friendly greeting, a food stimulus and a stress stimulus). Ten subjects without gastrointestinal symptoms participated in an identical experiment. Gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin levels were measured with radioimmunoassay. Both gastrin and somatostatin levels were influenced by the provocations and by the greeting and the stress stimulus in particular. In principle, the controls tended to react with a parasympathetic response pattern following the interactive stimuli, whereas the individuals with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract reacted with an activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Somatostatin levels were significantly higher and oxytocin levels lower in patients than in controls and gastrin levels tended to be higher in patients than in controls. Most individuals reported both gastric as well as intestinal symptoms. Gastrin levels correlated positively with total symptom level and somatostatin levels with intestinal symptoms scores reported by the patients.

Topics: Adult; Arousal; Eating; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxytocin; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Psychotherapy, Group; Somatostatin; Vagus Nerve

Topics: Circadian Rhythm; Gastrins; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Neurotic Disorders; Personality; Personality Inventory; Psychophysiologic Disorders; Self-Assessment; Sleep Wake Disorders; Time Factors