Depression and IBS

A study in the journal Neurogastroenterology & Motility looked at IBS symptoms in patients with recurrent major depression. One of the findings was that there was a strong correlation between symptoms of IBS and symptoms of anxiety/depression. In other words, patients who experienced a high amount of anxiety/depression symptoms also experienced a high amount of IBS symptoms. The experience of IBS symptoms was also associated with higher pain symptoms (from multiple sources), higher health-seeking behavior, and higher use of SSRI medication. The interesting finding was that patients whose major depression was in remission (meaning that they were free of symptoms of depression) did not have any more symptoms of IBS than the control group of non-depressed individuals.

Evidence continues to come in regarding the relationship of IBS and depression. Hopefully, these results will someday add up to a clearer picture as to what that relationship is and therefore lead to improved treatment options.

_{Source: No difference in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome between healthy subjects and patients with recurrent depression in remission (2007). Karling, P., et.al. Neurogastroenterology & Motility 19:896-904.}