Depression inflammatory bowel disease link

Main Category: Depression
Article Date: 02 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT


Depression can lead to a higher incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Anxiety can also do the same.

A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine examined the impact of depressive mood on the course of IBD over 18 months in 60 patients following an episode of active disease.

Seventeen patients (28%) were found to have depression at baseline and 32 (59%) had at least one relapse during follow-up.

A significant correlation was observed between depression scores at baseline, the development of flares and the total number of flares during follow-up.

Baseline depression scores were also significantly correlated with the time until the first relapse.

Anxiety and low HRQOL were also related, with more frequent relapses during follow-up.

'Our study elucidates that depressive mood represents a further risk factor for clinical recurrence of disease that should deserve more consideration in the clinical treatment of patients with IBD,' the authors conclude.

Reference: Mittermaier C et al (2004) Impact of Depressive Mood on Relapse in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective 18-Month Follow-Up Study Psychosom Med 66:79-84

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