pNew research from Switzerland suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may cause Crohn’s disease./p pCrohn’s disease is an incurable condition that results in severe pain in the abdomen and gastrointestinal upsets such as diarrhea. Post-traumatic stress syndrome is a mental disorder that can develop after a person experiences severe trauma, resulting in symptoms such as nightmares, anxiety, moodiness, inability to concentrate, and increased risk for substance abuse./p pIn the new study by Dr. Roland von Kanel of the Bern University Hospital, 468 people with Crohn’s disease were tested for post-traumatic stress disorder. About 20% had it, a rate about seven times more than the average population. Dr. von Kanel followed the participants for 18 months, and found that those who had the highest number of flare-ups from Crohn’s disease also had the highest scores for post-traumatic stress disorder./p p”It is evident that post-traumatic stress causes considerable suffering,” Dr. von Kanel said. “Gastroenterologists should be aware of the impact of Crohn’s disease on psychological well-being and the fact that this relationship is probably bidirectional.”/p pThis study appears in the journal Frontline Gastroenterology.br / nbsp;/p
