Stress and IBD

Thursday, 11 August 2011 15:00

Clinical News

Scientists have already demonstrated that celibacy and its ensuing stress are associated with risk of relapse of these diseases.

A recent study provides further details on such stress factors.

This prospective study was carried out on a population of 694 patients, 278 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 426 with Crohn’s disease (CD).

Several stress factors were examined:  financial problems, problems at work   (or, for students,  those associated with their course of study),  situations involving conflict, death of a loved one,  a separation, family problems  and various other life events.

Patients in remission reported undergoing significantly fewer stressful life events (60.8%) than those with persistent active disease (41.3%).

Interestingly, researchers observed that whatever the stress, but especially that linked to work or financial problems, it was associated with relapse of the disease and the setting in of a vicious circle:   intensification of the causal stress when  relapse occurred, augmented by the subsequent association of familial stress.

In conclusion, stressful life events are associated with risk of relapse of IBD,   early symptoms of which include diarrhea and fatigue.  The impact of stress upon these pathologies simply underscores the importance of the relationship between the patient and the physician and information given to the patient concerning his/her chronic disease.  In case of precursor symptoms of onset of relapse, early management could decrease morbidity and augment the quality of life so as to avoid the onset of a vicious circle.

References

Singh S et al.