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Beyond mood: the neurobiological rationale for using SSRIs and SNRIs in the care of inflammatory bowel disease and disorders of gut-brain interaction.
Minerva gastroenterology

Cure8 research brief

Beyond mood: the neurobiological rationale for using SSRIs and SNRIs in the care of inflammatory bowel disease and disorders of gut-brain interaction.

2 min read
Medications Microbiome Pain Anxiety Clinical study Clinicians Researchers Adult patients

Why This Matters

This review suggests SSRIs and SNRIs may influence both brain and gut pathways relevant to symptom burden in IBD and DGBI — potentially improving mood, pain, motility, and aspects of inflammation. That could matter for symptom control and integrated care planning, but evidence gaps remain.

Who Should Pay Attention

Adult patients with IBD or DGBI who have mood or pain symptoms; clinicians (gastroenterologists, psychiatrists, primary care); researchers studying microbiota–gut–brain mechanisms or drug repurposing.

Study Snapshot

Story typeResearch paper
Evidence typeResearch paper
Source depthJournal abstract

What To Know

This review explores biological reasons why SSRIs and SNRIs might help people with IBD and disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI).

The authors summarize preclinical and clinical evidence that these antidepressants affect central neurotransmission, neuroimmune signaling, enteric serotonin handling, vagal anti‑inflammatory tone, epithelial barrier integrity, and microbiota–gut–brain interactions.

The article is a mechanistic and translational review rather than a clinical guideline or new trial report.

It highlights potential benefits on mood, pain perception, gut motility, and mucosal inflammation, but emphasizes that stronger mechanistic studies and well‑designed randomized trials are still needed to confirm effects, optimal dosing, and which patients might benefit most.

If you take or are considering SSRIs/SNRIs, this review provides scientific rationale for multidisciplinary care (psychiatric and gastroenterology) but does not replace individualized medical advice. Discuss medication choices, potential interactions, and monitoring with your clinical team.

Keep In Mind

The source is a narrative review (abstract-level content provided). It summarizes preclinical and some clinical studies and calls for rigorously designed randomized trials; it does not report new randomized trial results. drug effects, risks, and interactions must be evaluated clinically.

Source Details

Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.

Read Original Source
Research paper Evidence type derived from source or registry metadata.
PublicationMinerva gastroenterology
AuthorsAntonio M D'Onofrio, Luisa Bertin, Gaspare F Ferrajoli +8 more
InstitutionSection of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Sacred Heart Catholic University, Rome, Italy - antoniomdonofrio@gmail.com.
Study typeJournal article
Indexed viaPubMed
Source typeResearch paper
PublishedAug 3, 2026, 12:00 AM
Content availableJournal abstract

This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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