Medical interventions to improve mood (psychotherapy, antidepressants, and physical activity) can reduce inflammation by 18% in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. ebiomedicine.
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. It is chronic autoimmune inflammation of the digestive system. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and incontinence, all of which can lead to significant mood and mental health problems.
Researchers examined data from 15,000 publications assessing the effects of mood-enhancing interventions on biomarkers of inflammation in adults with IBD. The authors selected 28 trials of the highest quality with similar experimental designs. More than 1,700 patients participated.
The analysis found that psychotherapy, which included cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness practices, led to greater reductions in inflammation compared with antidepressants and exercise. But in general, all these measures were effective. The reduction in inflammation was confirmed by an average 18% reduction in levels of C-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin, and other indicators of intestinal inflammation.
Previous scientists provenThat psychotherapy changes the activity of the cerebral cortex.