Can stress make IBS worse?

    Researchedby:
    Gabrielle Fundaro, Brady Holmer
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    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]