Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 Feb 11;15(4):433. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics15040433.

Daniela Pop ^1 2, Sorin Claudiu Man ^1 2, Dorin Farcau ^2 3

Author information

¹Third Pediatric Discipline, "Iuliu Ha?ieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400217 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2 Third Pediatric Department, Emergency Hospital for Children, 400217 Cluj-Napoca, Romania 3 Nursing Discipline, "Iuliu Ha?ieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400217 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

²Third Pediatric Department, Emergency Hospital for Children, 400217 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

³Nursing Discipline, "Iuliu Ha?ieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400217 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders diagnosed in children. It has a complex pathophysiology with several potential risk factors, including psychological disorders like anxiety and depression. This paper aimed to find genetic, pathophysiological, and clinical links between psychological factors (mainly anxiety and depression) and IBS in children. Impairment of the gut-brain communication and signalling of serotonin is responsible for both gastrointestinal and psychological disorders. Childhood psychological events seem to be linked to gastrointestinal symptoms not only in childhood but also in adulthood. Evidence of the efficacy of therapies targeting psychological disorders (antidepressant, hypnotherapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy) in children with IBS was evaluated. Further studies that use updated criteria for IBS and uniform questionnaires and outcome measures are needed to draw reliable conclusions regarding the connection between psychological factors and IBS.