Fear Is Linked to Worse Pain in IBD

Psychological therapies may help manage chronic symptoms.
Fear Is Linked to Worse Pain in IBD
3dMediSphere/Shutterstock
|Updated:
0:00

When it comes to chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), many people think the pain stems solely from swelling and inflammation. However, research suggests there may be more to the story—namely, how fear and emotional reactions may fuel persistent pain.

Turns out, the brain’s response to pain could be just as important as the inflammation itself.

George Citroner
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.