TY - JOUR
AU - E. Dendrinos
AU - H. Kim
AU - D. Hubik
AU - J. Green
AU - L. Yang
AU - A. Stanley
AU - M. Salzberg
AU - M. A. Kamm
AU - C. Basnayake
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) presenting to specialist care have a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity. Psychiatrists can provide effective treatments for these disorders; however, care is rarely delivered in an integrated manner. AIMS: This study aimed to characterise patients seen by psychiatrists in a multidisciplinary gastrointestinal (GI) clinic, describe the treatment provided and examine clinical outcomes. METHODS: In a single-centre multidisciplinary gastroenterology clinic, clinical records were retrospectively evaluated for patients with DGBIs seen by a psychiatrist. Patient demographics, medical and psychiatric history, records of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult trauma were collected. GI and mental health symptom outcomes were assessed using a five-point scale. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients (median age, 35 years; 77% female) were seen by the psychiatrist (median treatment duration 2.5 months) between January 2017 and November 2021. Fifty-six per cent had irritable bowel syndrome and 18% had functional dyspepsia. Common psychiatric comorbidities were anxiety (51%) and depression (43%). Seventy-seven per cent had a history of ACEs and 26% had a history of sexual trauma. Seventy-five per cent had previously seen a psychiatrist or psychologist. DGBI-Clinic psychiatrists provided a range of treatments including psychoeducation (64%), insight-oriented psychotherapy (39%), medication changes (27%) and cognitive behavioural therapy (19%). A majority of patients had improvement (46%) or resolution (11%) in GI symptoms. Forty per cent experienced improvement in mental health symptoms. Improvement in GI and mental health symptoms were correlated (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of patients with DGBI who were seen by psychiatrists within a multidisciplinary clinic demonstrated improvement in GI and mental health symptoms.
AD - Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Orygen Specialist Program, Orygen Limited, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Food and Mood Centre, IMPACT, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
AN - 40576249
BT - Intern Med J
C5 - Education & Workforce
CP - 10
DA - Oct
DO - 10.1111/imj.70134
DP - NLM
ET - 20250627
IS - 10
JF - Intern Med J
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) presenting to specialist care have a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity. Psychiatrists can provide effective treatments for these disorders; however, care is rarely delivered in an integrated manner. AIMS: This study aimed to characterise patients seen by psychiatrists in a multidisciplinary gastrointestinal (GI) clinic, describe the treatment provided and examine clinical outcomes. METHODS: In a single-centre multidisciplinary gastroenterology clinic, clinical records were retrospectively evaluated for patients with DGBIs seen by a psychiatrist. Patient demographics, medical and psychiatric history, records of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult trauma were collected. GI and mental health symptom outcomes were assessed using a five-point scale. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients (median age, 35 years; 77% female) were seen by the psychiatrist (median treatment duration 2.5 months) between January 2017 and November 2021. Fifty-six per cent had irritable bowel syndrome and 18% had functional dyspepsia. Common psychiatric comorbidities were anxiety (51%) and depression (43%). Seventy-seven per cent had a history of ACEs and 26% had a history of sexual trauma. Seventy-five per cent had previously seen a psychiatrist or psychologist. DGBI-Clinic psychiatrists provided a range of treatments including psychoeducation (64%), insight-oriented psychotherapy (39%), medication changes (27%) and cognitive behavioural therapy (19%). A majority of patients had improvement (46%) or resolution (11%) in GI symptoms. Forty per cent experienced improvement in mental health symptoms. Improvement in GI and mental health symptoms were correlated (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of patients with DGBI who were seen by psychiatrists within a multidisciplinary clinic demonstrated improvement in GI and mental health symptoms.
PY - 2025
SN - 1444-0903 (Print); 1444-0903
SP - 1687
EP - 1694+
ST - Clinical outcomes of patients seen by psychiatrists in a multidisciplinary clinic for disorders of gut-brain interaction
T1 - Clinical outcomes of patients seen by psychiatrists in a multidisciplinary clinic for disorders of gut-brain interaction
T2 - Intern Med J
TI - Clinical outcomes of patients seen by psychiatrists in a multidisciplinary clinic for disorders of gut-brain interaction
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1111/imj.70134
VL - 55
VO - 1444-0903 (Print); 1444-0903
Y1 - 2025
ER -