Assessment of causal link between psychological factors and symptom exacerbation in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review utilising Bradford Hill criteria and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Psychological stress is a prevalent factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with detrimental effects on patients' quality of life and possibly disease course. Although the aetiology of symptom exacerbation in IBD has been explored, determining any causation between psychological stress and symptom worsening remains challenging and requires a methodologically rigorous approach.

Aim

The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to determine a causal relationship between psychological stress and symptom exacerbation in IBD, subsequently utilising Bradford Hill's criteria (approach never used in this topic area before) to evaluate the likelihood of causal associations.

Methods

Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycInfo were searched for relevant studies

SUBMITTER: Schoultz M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7395978 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature