Why do people with Crohn’s disease feel more stressed?
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation and psychological distress in Crohn’s disease: Insights from acute and chronic stress responses
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Crohn’s patients have lower chronic stress hormones (hair cortisol) than healthy controls.
It contradicts the common belief that chronic illness = chronically high cortisol; instead, it suggests HPA axis burnout or suppression.
Practical Takeaways
If you have Crohn’s, managing smoking and improving hemoglobin (e.g., through diet or iron supplements) may help reduce stress and anxiety.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Crohn’s patients have lower chronic stress hormones (hair cortisol) than healthy controls.
It contradicts the common belief that chronic illness = chronically high cortisol; instead, it suggests HPA axis burnout or suppression.
Practical Takeaways
If you have Crohn’s, managing smoking and improving hemoglobin (e.g., through diet or iron supplements) may help reduce stress and anxiety.
Publication
Journal
World Journal of Psychiatry
Year
2026
Authors
Effrosini Laoudi, Demetra Papalouka, G. Kokkotis, M. Gkizis, A. Mantzou, G. Lyrakos, P. Markopoulos, P. Prapa, T. Voulgaris, J. Vlachogiannakos, I. Papaconstantinou, G. Bamias
Related Content
Claims (5)
Prolonged stress-related hormonal signaling can reduce the ability of the immune system to maintain balance, which may lead to a higher likelihood of autoimmune conditions.
People with Crohn’s disease show lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their hair compared to people without inflammatory bowel disease who underwent surgery, suggesting their bodies may not activate the stress response system as strongly over long periods.
In a group of people with Crohn’s disease, 58% had high stress, 27% had severe or extremely severe anxiety, and 24% had severe or extremely severe depression, based on a standardized psychological questionnaire.
In outpatient settings, people with Crohn’s disease are more likely to report high levels of stress than people with cancer, but less likely to report severe anxiety.
In people with Crohn’s disease, those with more active disease symptoms, who smoke, or who have lower hemoglobin levels tend to report higher levels of stress and anxiety.