Why Do Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Impair Quality of Life Even in Remission?
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are affecting an increasing number of people worldwide. Even when the disease appears inactive, patients may suffer from anxiety disorders, depression, and intense fatigue. Recent research shows that these symptoms persist in the majority of patients in remission and deeply affect their daily lives.
The study compared forty patients in remission with a group of healthy individuals. The results reveal that more than eight out of ten patients experienced a major depressive episode, and seven out of ten suffered from generalized anxiety disorders. Their levels of fatigue, anxiety, and depression were much higher than in people without bowel disease. Additionally, their sex lives were often disrupted, with satisfaction scores significantly lower than those of the control group.
Fatigue, in particular, proved to be the factor most linked to the deterioration of quality of life. It negatively influences emotional, social, and professional aspects, far more than sexual disorders. Researchers emphasize that this fatigue is not only physical but also mental, and it is closely linked to psychological state. Patients in remission experience persistent weariness, even in the absence of digestive symptoms, suggesting a complex connection between the brain and the gut.
The mechanisms explaining this situation are multiple. Stress, isolation, or lack of self-confidence, which are common among these patients, worsen their mental state. Furthermore, chronic inflammation, even if subtle, could disrupt communication between the digestive system and the brain, thus perpetuating a vicious cycle between psychological distress and physical symptoms.
Sexual disorders, more pronounced in women than in men, are also an additional burden. They are partly explained by the psychological consequences of the disease, such as shame or fear of not meeting expectations. However, contrary to what one might think, disease activity does not have a direct impact on sexuality. It is mainly anxiety and depressive disorders that are responsible.
These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive patient care, even when their disease seems under control. Regular assessment of their mental state and fatigue levels should be an integral part of medical follow-up. Solutions such as therapy, adapted physical activity programs, or psychological support could significantly improve their well-being.
Researchers emphasize the need not to overlook these invisible aspects of the disease. A better understanding of these links between body and mind would enable more complete care and help patients regain a more fulfilling life, even during remission.
Bibliographie
Source de l’étude
DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-026-01121-4
Titre : Burden of depression, anxiety, sexual impairment, and fatigue in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the remission phase and their impact on quality of life
Revue : The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Éditeur : Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Auteurs : Bahaa Osman Taha; Ahmed Abdelfadeel Maghraby; Ahmed Mahmoud ElShibany; Ahmed Safwat Abdel Hameed; Mustafa M. Hashem