Inflammatory bowel disease and anxiety: links, risks, and challenges faced

Figures & data

Table 1 Symptoms experienced in anxiety disorder

General symptoms

Hot flushes or cold chills

Numbness or tingling sensations

Autonomic arousal symptoms

Palpitations

Sweating

Trembling or shaking

Symptoms concerning chest and abdomen

Difficulty breathing

Feeling of choking

Chest pain or discomfort

Nausea or abdominal distress

Symptoms concerning brain and mind

Feeling dizzy and unsteady

Faint or light-headed

Feelings that objects are unreal (derealization), or that one’s self is distant or “not really here”

Fear of losing control, going crazy, or passing out

Fear of dying

Symptoms of tension

Muscle tension or aches and pains

Restlessness and inability to relax

Feeling keyed up, or on edge, or of mental tension

A sensation of a lump in the throat, or difficulty with swallowing

Other nonspecific symptoms

Exaggerated response to minor surprises or being startled

Difficulty in concentrating, or mind going blank, because of worrying or anxiety

Persistent irritability

Difficulty getting to sleep because of worrying

Table 2 Possible risk factor for AD in IBD

Psychological stress

Increasing age

Severe and active disease

Surgery and stoma

Patient education

Poor socioeconomic status

Abbreviations: AD, anxiety disorder; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease.

Figure 1 Interaction between anxiety and IBD symptoms.

Abbreviations: FGID, functional gastrointestinal disorders; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease.

Table 3 Anxiety and depression detector

Have you …

1. Had a spell or attack where all of a sudden you felt frightened, anxious, or uneasy?

2. Been bothered by nerves or feeling anxious or on edge for 6 months?

3. Had a problem being anxious or uncomfortable around people?

4. Had recurrent dreams or nightmares of trauma or avoidance of trauma reminders?

Over the past 2 weeks, have you …

5. Felt down depressed or hopeless with little interest or pleasure in doing things?

Table 4 Conclusion

Be aware of AD in IBD patients

Screen for AD in patients with possible risk factors

Aim for full control of IBD

Initiate the treatment in multidisciplinary fashion

Involve patients in the choice of psychological therapy

Abbreviations: AD, anxiety disorder; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease.