Page 85 - JCBP-3-4

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Psychological COVID-19 gastrointestinal

the study and divided into two groups based on their All these questionnaires used in this study have been
predominant GI symptom: (i) GI group (n = 54): Patients translated into Greek and standardized for use within
with predominant GI symptoms of anorexia, nausea, the Greek population, ensuring cultural and linguistic
vomiting, and abdominal pain, and (ii) D group (n = 48): relevance.
Patients with diarrhea as the predominant symptom.
2.3. Statistical analysis
2.2. Psychological assessments All data were analyzed descriptively in great detail.
Psychological assessments were conducted by an The distributions of key baseline sample characteristics
experienced clinical psychologist holding a doctoral between groups were compared to identify imbalances
degree in psychology, 3 months after each patient’s positive and potential confounding factors. Patient matching was
PCR test for COVID-19. Interviews were initiated only conducted based on demographic data. Separate statistical
after patients demonstrated an understanding of the analyses were carried out for every questionnaire.
instructions. The following validated instruments were Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to explore
administered to assess mood and emotional states: relationships between variables, and independent samples
(i) Positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS) : This t-tests were used to assess differences between the two
16
scale, also known as a scale composed of various patient groups. An alpha level of 0.001 was set to determine
feelings and emotions, is the most popular and statistical significance.
frequently used scale to measure two independent
dimensions: positive affect and negative affect. Positive 3. Results
affect reflects the extent to which an individual feels 3.1. Demographics
enthusiastic, active, and alert even when facing
challenges, while negative affect relates to distress and Initially, 107 patients agreed to participate in the study.
unpleasant emotions, such as anger, contempt, guilt, However, three patients were excluded for refusing
to complete the psychological tests, and two were
and fear. The PANAS has demonstrated excellent
psychometric properties across general and clinical excluded after relocating and continuing treatment in
populations and has been validated in multiple other hospitals. The remaining 102 COVID-19 patients
languages. (50 male, 52 female) with GI symptoms participated in the
(ii) State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) : Developed by study (Figure 1). None of the participants withdrew after
17
psychologists Gorsuch, Lushene, and Spielberger, enrolment. The age of the patients ranged from 42 years
old to 64 years old (mean ± SD: 49.96 ± 7.77). Educational
the STAI is a commonly used measure for the attainment ranged from 6 years to 16 years (mean ± SD:
assessment of both trait anxiety (a general tendency 13.60 ± 3.15). Table 1 displays the patients’ demographic
to perceive situations as threatening) and state anxiety
(a temporary emotional state). It can be used to information by groups.
identify anxiety and distinguish it from depressive The two groups did not differ significantly in terms
illnesses in medical settings. It is also frequently used of age (p=0.155), educational level (p=0.623), and
in research as a measure of caregivers’ distress for a gender (p=0.432) (Table 2). The level of significance was
variety of illnesses. This assessment consists of 40 established at 0.001 (two-tailed).
self-report items rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with
higher scores indicating greater anxiety levels. The 3.2. Psychological differences between GI symptom
most recent iteration, Form Y, is accessible in over 40 subgroups
languages. Independent-samples t-tests were conducted for each
(iii) Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS) : The SDS is questionnaire. Patients in the GI group scored significantly
18
a 20-item self-report questionnaire used to measure lower on negative mood (p<0.001), anxiety (p<0.001), and
the level of depression. It evaluates four common depression (p=0.001), and scored significantly higher on
characteristics of depression: pervasive effect, positive mood (p<0.001, compared to patients in the D
biological equivalents, psychomotor actions, and group (Table 2).
other disturbances. Each item is scored on a 4-point
Likert scale, with total raw scores ranging from 20 3.3. Correlation between GI symptoms and
to 80. Certain items are reverse-scored, that is, from psychological outcomes
4 to 1. While less studied than the Beck depression To investigate the relationship between GI symptoms and
inventory-II, the SDS has been widely used in medical emotional responses, Pearson’s correlation coefficient
studies, particularly in antidepressant medications. was used. The analysis evaluated the linear relationship

Volume 3 Issue 4 (2025) 79 doi: 10.36922/JCBP025040007