New research has established a link between irritable bowel syndrome and mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. These findings highlight the importance of treating associated psychiatric co-morbidities.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of the stomach and intestines affecting up to 15 percent of the U. S. population. It causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea. A recent study looked at more than 1.2 million IBS patient hospitalizations from 4,000 hospitals over a three-year period and found that more than 38 percent had anxiety and more than 27 percent had depression. Both figures were double the rate of anxiety and depression found in those without IBS. The prevalence of psychiatric problems including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, suicidal attempt/ideation and eating disorders was significantly higher in the IBS patient population when compared to the general adult population.
“One possible explanation is the so-called brain-gut axis,” said lead researcher Zahid Ijaz Tarar, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine. “We’ve long suspected that dysfunction of the brain-gut axis is bidirectional, such that IBS symptoms influence anxiety and depression, and on the other hand, psychiatric factors cause IBS symptoms. Medical professionals need to treat both ends of the axis.” Untreated psychiatric disorders among IBS patients puts additional strain on health care systems through increased frequency of hospital admissions and longer stays. Chronic diseases like IBS are also known to be associated with stress, work impairment, and associated economic burdens on patients and their families.
“I frequently tell my patients who have IBS, that if they have any type of psychologic stress, it will get expressed in some form or the other,” said senior author Yezaz Ghouri, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine and gastroenterology. “The mesentery membrane that holds the intestines together has one of the largest collections of nerve cells in the body. When those nerves start firing impulses, that can lead to the state of nervousness in and around the GI tract, resulting in IBS symptoms. The resulting decline in patient quality of life can lead to poor lifestyle choices, such as smoking. Early evaluation and treatment of both IBS and associated psychiatric conditions is essential.”
This article is based on a press release by the University of Missouri. You can find the original publication here and by following the link in our text.
Image source: Pawel Czerwinski, Unsplash
