Role of negative affects in pathophysiology and clinical expression of irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is regarded as a multifactorial disease in which alterations in the brain-gut axis signaling play a major role. The biopsychosocial model applied to the understanding of IBS pathophysiology assumes that psychosocial factors, interacting with peripheral/central neuroendocrine and immune changes, may induce symptoms of IBS, modulate symptom severity, influence illness experience and quality of life, and affect outcome. The present review focuses on the role of negative affects, including depression, anxiety, and anger, on pathogenesis and clinical expression of IBS. The potential role of the autonomic nervous system, stress-hormone system, and immune system in the pathophysiology of both negative affects and IBS are taken into account. Psychiatric comorbidity and subclinical variations in levels of depression, anxiety, and anger are further discussed in relation to the main pathophysiological and symptomatic correlates of IBS, such as sensorimotor functions, gut microbiota, inflammation/immunity, and symptom reporting.

Risk of psychiatric disorders in irritable bowel syndrome-A nationwide, population-based, cohort study

“…Brain‐gut‐microbiota axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both IBS and psychiatric disorders . Since stress‐related disorders include anxiety and depression, and the development of irritable bowel syndrome have mutual influences, several researches have reported that psychological stress or negative affective symptoms could precipitate or exacerbate IBS through this axis . The effects of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and even antipsychotics in the treatment of IBS also hint at the correlations between IBS and psychiatric disorders.…”

Role of stem cell growth factor/c-Kit in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome

“…Indeed, experimental studies in a depression mouse model revealed a correlation between decreased c-Kit expression in the hippocampus and impaired neuronal differentiation and migration (55). It is well established that severe depression is a key factor predisposing to IBS development (56,57). Therefore, a relationship between altered SCF/c-Kit signals with the emotional, psychological and physical stimulated state of IBS patients is possible (58).…”

The Common Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in Northern Saudi Arabia

“…The biopsychosocial model applied to the understanding of IBS pathophysiology proposed that psychosocial factors, interacting with peripheral/central neuroendocrine and immune alterations, may encourage symptoms of IBS, modify symptom severity, influence illness experience and quality of life, and disturbing outcome. An earlier study has proposed that negative emotions and attitudes have harmful effects on health, and a number of behavioral and biological mechanisms could trigger these links [16]. However, the prevalence of psychiatric conditions in IBS patients differs in diverse cultures [17].…”