Can talk therapies relieve Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?
Wednesday, June, 19, 2024.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, affects over three million Americans and 500,000 folks in the UK.
Symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, bleeding, anemia, and fatigue not only impact physical health but also significantly affect mental health and quality of life.
A recent review of research suggests that psychosocial interventions can play a crucial role in managing IBD.
These interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), have shown promising results in reducing inflammation levels in IBD patients. The study, analyzing data from 28 trials, found that these interventions can decrease inflammation levels by 18 to 48 percent and improve mood.
According to Ms Natasha Seaton, the study's lead author, current medications for IBD are expensive and can have adverse side effects. The study indicates that psychosocial interventions could be a valuable and cost-effective alternative, offering relief for those with IBD.
Professor Valeria Mondelli, co-author of the study, highlighted the connection between mood improvement and physical health.
She stated: “Our study suggests that improvements in mood can influence physical diseases through modulation of the immune system. We know stress-related feelings can increase inflammation and the findings suggest that by improving mood we can reduce this type of inflammation.
This adds to the growing body of research demonstrating the role of inflammation in mental health and suggests that interventions working to improve mood could also have direct physical effects on levels of inflammation. However, more research is needed to understand exact mechanisms in IBD.”
Professor Rona Moss-Morris, another co-author, emphasized the potential benefits of integrating mental health support with pharmacological treatments for IBD.
She said: “Interventions for mood show considerable promise for the management of IBD in improving mental health, inflammation, and disease outcomes. Integrated mental health support alongside pharmacological treatments may offer a more holistic approach to IBD care, potentially leading to reduced disease and health care costs.
Currently, medications taken to reduce inflammation are often very costly compared to psychological therapies in the U.K. Given this, including psychological interventions, such as cost-effective digital interventions, within IBD management might reduce the need for anti-inflammatory medication, resulting in an overall cost benefit.”
In conclusion, psychosocial interventions show promise in the management of IBD. Further research is needed to understand the exact mechanisms involved, but these interventions offer a holistic approach to IBD care, addressing both mental and physical aspects of the disease.
Be Well, Stay Kind and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Everitt, H.; Moss-Morris, R.; Sibelli, A.; Tapp, L.; Coleman, N.; Yardley, L.; Smith, P.; Little, P. (2013). "Management of irritable bowel syndrome in primary care: the results of an exploratory randomised controlled trial of mebeverine, methylcellulose, placebo and a self-management website". BMC Gastroenterology. 13 (1): 68. doi:10.1186/1471-230x-13-68. PMC 3651308. PMID 23602047.
Chilcot, J.; Moss-Morris, R. (2013). "Changes in illness-related cognitions rather than distress mediate improvements in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and disability following a brief cognitive behavioural therapy intervention". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 51 (10): 690–695. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.07.007. PMID 23948131.
