Influence on the psyche | Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

Influence on the psyche

Crohn’s disease is a chronic disease for which there are treatment options, but which cannot be cured. For many patients it is a psychological challenge to suffer from a chronic disease whose progression and individual prognosis is difficult to assess. Since the diagnosis is usually made at a young age (between 15 and 35), patients are uncertain in their life planning.

Many patients develop anxieties about the future or even depression. The quality of life is limited.Especially in an acute flare of Crohn’s disease, the everyday life of the affected patients can be severely restricted by the severe symptoms and frequent diarrhea, appointments have to be cancelled and plans have to be changed. The symptoms are often taboo, which is why patients sometimes have no understanding for cancellations of appointments with friends or for absences from work.

Lack of understanding leads to a lack of support and thus to social isolation of the patients, which in turn increases the risk of depression. It is therefore important to deal with the disease openly in order to maintain the social network.

All articles in this series:

  1. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease
  2. Dysfunction of the intestine
  3. Pain as a symptom
  4. Influence on the psyche