Psychological stress is a well-established risk factor for IBS, to the point that some claim IBS is a condition of “irritable bowel and irritable brain.”[1] Changes in the gut-brain axis induced by stress can aggravate IBS symptoms through multiple different pathways involving the microbiome and the nervous system. It is estimated that around 45% of individuals with IBS may also have anxiety, depression, or other psychiatric disorders.[2]
References
- ^Qin HY, Cheng CW, Tang XD, Bian ZXImpact of psychological stress on irritable bowel syndrome.World J Gastroenterol.(2014-Oct-21)
- ^Singh P, Agnihotri A, Pathak MK, Shirazi A, Tiwari RP, Sreenivas V, Sagar R, Makharia GKPsychiatric, somatic and other functional gastrointestinal disorders in patients with irritable bowel syndrome at a tertiary care center.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.(2012-Jul)