Giardia Patients in Bergen with Continued Complaints: Current Status on Gastrointestinal Complaints, anxiety, depression and neuroticism

Abstract

The aim was to investigate 111 former Giardia patients in Bergen, in context of the subjective health complaints field. Gastrointestinal complaints and its relation to anxiety, depression and neuroticism were assessed with GSRS, ROME II, HADS, and EPQ-R(N). Gender differences on these variables were investigated. We found that gender differences are related to complaints prior to Giardia infection. Anxiety and depression levels are high and only related to complaints prior to Giardia infection. The relationship between neuroticism and complaints are complex. We conclude that our sample is unique and not directly comparable with other IBS populations. The high levels of anxiety and depression could be used as a possible route to alleviate the patients in some aspects of their complaints.