Gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, functional heartburn, functional dyspepsia, and ulcerative colitis can now be treated psychologically. The brain-gut axis which is the biochemical signaling between the brain and gastrointestinal (GI) tract can have a major role in GI disorders.
According to Science Daily, the normal stress in daily life triggers certain gastrointestinal disorders. The health problem is a cycle situation wherein worrying about pain, constipation, diarrhea, and other symptoms can, in turn, increase the stress. The treatment was discovered by Sarah Kinsinger, Ph.D., ABPP a Loyola Medicine Health Psychologist specializing in GI disorders.
In many patients, psychological or behavioral interventions can be more beneficial and effective compared to other medications, as stated by Kinsinger. Kinsinger offers behavioral and psychological interventions targeting the brain-gut axis suppressing gastrointestinal disorders. Specifically, her clinic does cognitive-behavioral therapy and behavioral relaxation techniques in order to teach her patients different coping strategies to manage symptoms and reduce stress.
Psychological and behavioral intervention does not necessarily cure gastrointestinal disorders but the treatment can provide patients with safer and more effective coping mechanisms reducing the severity of the symptoms, added by Kinsinger. IBS can be primarily treated by psychological and behavioral interventions. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, on the other hand, can be adjunctively treated psychologically and behaviorally.
As reported by Cleveland Clinic, gastrointestinal disorders include conditions such as constipation, annal fissures, hemorrhoids, colitis, colon polyps, and cancer. This group of symptoms and diseases are prevented by maintaining a healthy outlook and lifestyle and practicing good bowel habits.
Gastrointestinal disorders are classified into two ways. Constipation and IBS are considered functional GI disorders wherein the GI tract looks normal but it does not work properly. Structural GI disorder, on the other hand, is those in which the bowel looks abnormal and does not work properly requiring surgical removal. Structural GI disorder includes hemorrhoids, diverticular disease, colon polyps, colon cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.
