Study Shows Depression Affects IBD Patients and Their Siblings
Living with a chronic condition like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis — both forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — impacts every aspect of a person’s life. Not only do these illnesses affect physical health, they also take their toll on mental and emotional health.Research shows mental health struggles among those living with IBD are common. People with IBD are 2 to 3 times more likely to have depression and anxiety than the general population, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation reports.It’s easy to see how symptoms of IBD, including severe diarrhea, chronic pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite, could lead to social isolation and feelings of depression. But recent research suggests the relationship between the two conditions may be a bit more complex than that.A new study, published in April 2022 in…