9. Anxiety and Depression
IBS has also been linked to depression and anxiety, although it is not clear if the IBS symptoms were a sign of mental stress or if the stress of living with the condition has resulted in psychological difficulties in the patient. But regardless of what comes first, digestive IBS symptoms and anxiety may overlap with each other in a vicious cycle.
A large study done on 94,000 patients has shown that those with IBS are 50% more likely to have anxiety disorders and 70% more likely to suffer from mood disorders including depression.
In addition, another study has found that anxiety reduction therapy may help to reduce stress and minimize other IBS symptoms.
