Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
A follow-up study of anxiety and depressive symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome
Arka Banerjee1, Sujit Sarkhel2, Gopal Krishna Dhali1
1Department of Gastroenterology, IPGME and R, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Background:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder and is closely linked to stress. Psychiatric morbidities such as anxiety and depression are common in IBS. Long-term follow-up studies on anxiety and depressive symptoms in IBS and the impact of treatment are lacking in the Indian scenario.
Aims:
This study aimed to assess the various subtypes of IBS according to the Rome IV criteria, assess anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with IBS at baseline and also at various phases of follow-up over one year, and see the impact of the treatment of both IBS and associated anxiety and depressive symptoms if present, in the severity of IBS and other psychiatric symptoms.
Materials And Methods:
Patients with IBS, aged between 18 and 65 years, were enrolled for the study. Subtypes and severity of IBS were assessed. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), respectively. The patients were treated with conventional treatment of IBS with concomitant treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms and were followed up for 1 year.
Results:
Thirty-seven patients completed a 1-year follow-up. The mean age was 38.4 ± 11.6 years. The majority were males (81%), and IBS-D (84%) was the most common subtype. Stressful life events (67.6%) and chronic stressors (64.9%) were present in the majority of the patients. The patients had moderate-to-severe anxiety at baseline (HAM-A score 27.8 ± 6.4) and moderate-to-severe depression at baseline (HAM-D score 19.7 ± 6.6). The improvement over 1 year was statistically significant (P = 0.000, two-tailed). A positive correlation between the severity score of IBS and HAM-D (r = 0.604) and HAM-A (r = 0.536) scores was present.
Conclusion:
There is a high prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with IBS. With adequate treatment of both IBS and concomitant anxiety-depressive symptoms, there is a significant decrease in the severity of IBS, anxiety, and depression.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:30Irritable Bowel Syndrome III: Medical and Nursing Management
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:17Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...