Common mental disorders in irritable bowel syndrome: pathophysiology, management, and considerations for future randomised controlled trials

The frequent co-occurrence of irritable bowel syndrome and the common mental disorders of anxiety and depression is well established. A range of biological and psychosocial disease mechanisms are common to both disorders, many of which contribute to a dysregulated gut–brain axis. Clinical and subthreshold psychological comorbidity adds to the functional impairment and disease burden in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome. Progress is being...