Gastric emptying and anxiety in chronic duodenal ulcer

The authors have evaluated in a group of patients afflicted with duodenal ulcer whether anxiety might be in some way linked to gastric emptying. The 23 patients studied were subdivided into two groups: "fast" emptiers (n = 12; t 1/2 less than 90 min) and "normal" emptiers (n = 11; t 1/2 greater than 90 min). There were no significant differences between the two groups for the following parameters: sex, age, marital status, educational level, social class, number of cigarettes smoked per day, type of treatment undergone for the duodenal ulcer and maximal acid output. Anxiety levels measured with the Q4 and QII factors of the Cattell's PF 16 were found to be the same in the two groups. The authors conclude that anxiety does not seem to be linked to gastric emptying in chronic duodenal ulcer.