A groundbreaking study from King’s College London has revealed a promising new way to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – by improving mood.
The research, conducted at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, found that mood-enhancing interventions like psychological therapy, antidepressants, and exercise can reduce inflammation levels in people with IBD by a significant 18%.
IBD, which includes conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects over half a million people in the UK alone.
It’s an autoimmune disease that inflames the digestive tract, causing symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, and extreme fatigue. These physical symptoms are tough, but IBD also takes a heavy toll on mental health.
In this study, researchers focused on specific markers in the body that show inflammation, particularly in IBD.
They analyzed studies on C-Reactive Protein and fecal calprotectin, both of which are key indicators of IBD-related inflammation. They also looked at other inflammatory biomarkers.
The team’s method was thorough. They sifted through over 15,000 articles and picked out 28 randomized controlled trials with more than 1,700 participants.
These trials were all about testing mood interventions in adults with IBD and seeing their impact on inflammation.
The results, published in eBiomedicine, are exciting. They suggest that treating mood could be a dual-purpose strategy: it not only helps mental health but also reduces physical inflammation in IBD.
This could be a game-changer, especially considering that current IBD medications are often expensive and can have unpleasant side effects.
Natasha Seaton, the study’s lead author and a Ph.D. student, points out the significance of their findings. She notes that treating mental health not only helps emotionally but also physically lowers inflammation levels.
This means mood interventions could be a valuable and cost-effective part of treating IBD.
Of all the interventions they looked at, psychological therapies stood out. Treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction showed the best results for reducing inflammation compared to antidepressants and exercise.
This research opens up a new avenue in treating IBD. It underscores the importance of mental health in managing physical conditions and offers hope for a more holistic and accessible approach to tackling this challenging disease.
If you care about health, please read studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and Vitamin D could help reduce depression symptoms.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and Omega-3 supplements could improve memory functions in older people.
The research findings can be found in eBioMedicine.
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