can chronic pouchitis cause psych issues?

Apparently so, I'm living proof. Anxiety & depression

There is no evidence I'm aware of that pouchitis causes any psych issues beyond the obvious connection between disturbing symptoms (such as incontinence) and mental state. Psych issues are common, so they will commonly be present when pouchitis is acting up.

Some antibiotics can have psych side effects, though. For example, Cipro carries with it the risk of depression, toxic psychosis, and suicidal ideation (all rare, fortunately). It more commonly can cause restlessness, anxiety, agitation, and confusion. All medications can have side effects.

Any longterm disease will carry psych complications due to stress, strain, emotional exhaustion and possible dietary vitamin deficiencies...(B6 has been implicated in problems of the nervous system)...but specifically I have never heard of a direct link either.

Who knows...

Sharon

I agree with the above. It is not the specific disease, but the chronicity that can affect mental health. Plus, meds can have psychiatric side effects.

In most cases pouchitis is not an infection, but an inflammatory response to bacteria. IF you did have a systemic infection that crossed the blood-brain barrier and caused encephalitis, THAT could cause psychiatric complications.

Jan

I agree with all of the above.  I  now have depression from the multiple debilitating issues I have been dealing with for awhile, one of them being chronic pitchouts and the other being on Cipro  regularly. 

My dad was on Cipro for several months before he passed away and had some pretty significant psychiatric changes while on it such as depression,, anxiety and agitation. .  I never saw him behave as he did in all my life while he was taking the drug. He was like a different person.  He was always a happy, go lucky guy prior to three months on high doses of cipro that we  believe sadly contributed to his death by aortic dissection   

Any long term chronic physical illness can take a toll on mental health. I know. I have battled periods of anxiety and depression in the years after my emergency surgery.  I think the mental health aspect of living with IBD is often overlooked.  You are definitely not alone in this.

Though I am doing well currently, in the past I have been in therapy, with mixed results. The first therapist I saw  was not very knowledgeable about IBD and although she did try to educate herself, I felt she really downplayed and even dismissed the impact IBD had on my life. I had been a previously healthy, very active 26 year old, just starting my career, and I was struck down with acute UC and required emergency surgery within 3 weeks of my diagnosis. I felt my lifestyle, career, and relationships suffered greatly as a result. I was fearful of getting sicker. Yet she didn't seem to recognize these things as significant issues and diagnosed me with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (this diagnosis was later ruled out). After 6-8 sessions, it was obvious we didn't really click and I moved on from her. However, I was lucky enough to finally be referred to a  a psychiatrist who specialized in treating patients and their families dealing with chronic, long term, and terminal illnesses.  The sessions I had with her were very insightful. If you are struggling, I would suggest looking for a therapist who has experience treating patients with IBD, or at least patients living with chronic diseases. 

 

This study has low numbers but may be of interest to people..  

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21683306