Neurogastroenterology and motilityApr 16, 2021

Increased nerve sensitivity linked to worse gut symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, and inflammatory bowel disease

Gut-Brain Axis Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 4, 2026

Abstract

Central sensitization was present in 57% of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients.

The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) and Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) scale were used to assess central sensitization levels.
40% of the entire study cohort exhibited central sensitization, with higher rates in IBS compared to other groups.
Participants with central sensitization reported more severe gastrointestinal symptoms, anxiety, and depression.
A strong association was found between central sensitization and gastrointestinal symptom severity across the cohort.
The strength of associations decreased in those with chronic pain disorders and inflammatory bowel disease compared to IBS.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: Central sensitization has been suggested as an explanation of the wide range of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms commonly seen in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this study, the presence and level of central sensitization, and its association to gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were explored in IBS in comparison with control groups.

METHODS: We investigated patients with IBS (n = 215), chronic pain disorders (n = 36), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (n = 40) and volunteers without chronic diseases (n = 112). The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) was translated and validated in Swedish and used together with the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) scale to measure the presence and level of central sensitization. Furthermore, severity of GI symptoms (GSRS-IBS and IBS-SSS), and anxiety and depression (HAD) were determined.

KEY RESULTS: The Swedish translation of CSI demonstrated excellent validity. Central sensitization, defined by validated cut-off levels for CSI and HSP, was common in the whole cohort (40% and 28%) and in IBS (57% and 35%). Study participants with central sensitization had more severe GI symptoms, anxiety and depression, than participants without central sensitization. Strong associations were seen between CSI and GI symptom severity in the whole cohort (GSRS-IBS: partial η = 0.455, p < 0.001; IBS-SSS: partial η = 0.408, p < 0.001), with decreasing strength in patients with chronic pain, IBD, IBS, and volunteers. 2 2

CONCLUSION AND INFERENCES: Central sensitization was common in IBS and associated with GI symptom severity, but with stronger associations in chronic pain disorders and IBD. This implies that other mechanisms may be of equal or greater importance for GI symptom severity in IBS.

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Increased nerve sensitivity linked to worse gut symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, and inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

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