Effect of acute physical and psychological stress on gut autonomic innervation in irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Background & Aims: Stress is an important causative factor in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It remains unknown whether stress-related changes in gut function are mediated by altered autonomic efferent gut-specific innervation. We studied the effect of acute physical and psychological stress on autonomic innervation and visceral sensitivity in healthy volunteers and patients with IBS. Methods: Twenty-four patients (20 women) with constipation-predominant IBS and 12 healthy volunteers (8 women) underwent either physical (cold water hand immersion) or psychological (dichotomous listening) stress on separate occasions. Assessments included stress perception (visual analogue scale), gut-specifi..