Treatments for depression may help irritable bowel symptoms

Antidepressants are likely to provide more than a placebo effect for those with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Antidepressants improve symptoms in about 60% of those taking them, but two-thirds of that effect may be due to placebo. Psychological therapies, such as talking therapies also appear effective in about half of those offered them but may be partly due to expectations because it is not possible to provide a placebo control.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news