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Abstract

There is considerable evidence indicating that patients with irritable bowel syndrome respond to emotional and environmental stimulation with increased colon motor activity. It has been suggested also that increased colon motor activity is not confined to the colon and may be representative of a broader disorder affecting the rest of the gastrointestinal tract in this population. The results of our current study suggest that anger may have a significant, although differential effect on antral motor activity in IBS patients compared to normal controls. We found that while antral motor activity did not differ significantly in our groups during rest, anger decreased antral motor activity in IBS patients and increased antral motor activity in normal controls. The difference was not attributable to a difference in anger levels since the groups did not differ in their response to the standardized anger stressor. Rather, the difference in the antral motor response appears to be qualitative and a possible marker for irritable bowel syndrome. Our data further suggest that increased colon motor activity in IBS patients during emotional stress is not a result of a rise in motor activity throughout the gastrointestinal tract, but a phenomenon that may be unique to the colon in this patient population.

Gut feelings: the emerging biology of gut–brain communication

“…For example, top-down modulation can override local (for example, ENS-based) reflex function in the context of threats to body homeostasis (haemorrhagic shock), severe environmental stressors 23 or during strong emotions such as fear, anger and sadness 24,25 .…”

Chronic Diffuse Pain and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders After Traumatic Stress: Pathophysiology Through a Polyvagal Perspective

“…For the most part, under normal conditions, basic digestive functions are delegated to intrinsic enteric processes (though spinal and vagal pathways are employed for reflexes to coordinate GI function across wide or multiple regions) ( 46 , 47 ). However, under conditions of internal and external threat, SNS and DVC pathways can override typical gastrointestinal local reflexes as part of coordinated organism responses ( 48 , 49 ). In such situations, digestion can be inhibited or bowels can be cleared to facilitate more energy for other metabolic needs.…”

Experience of Anger in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Romania

“…A number of studies have suggested that stress can lead to IBS exacerbations [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. One pathway of such influences could involve direct effects of anger on relevant physiological mechanism [ 5 ]. Anger is an emotional state widely spread in the general population.…”

“…Previous studies documented a relationship between the tendency to control or repress anger, the level of abdominal pain and augmented postprandial colonic motility [ 11 , 12 ]. Other authors found that antral motor activity decreased in IBS patients and increased in controls [ 5 ]. In regard to anger, the aforementioned results suggest that negative emotions could have significant impact on IBS symptomatology.…”