Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)NCT07646834
Anxiety and Depression in IBS: A Brain-Gut Axis Study
An observational study of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Anxiety, run by Tang-Du Hospital at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
This study aims to understand how the gut and the brain communicate in people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who also experience anxiety and depression. We want to see if changes in gut bacteria are linked to changes in brain function, and to find potential markers that could help in diagnosis or future… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Anxiety, Depression
- How many people
- 200 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 21 Dec 2025to 30 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: Adults (18-60 years) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) meeting Rome IV criteria and healthy right-handed volunteers, all with at least 6 years of education.
Who may be able to join
- Right-handed, aged 18-60 years, with more than 6 years of education;
- Meeting the Rome IV diagnostic criteria for IBS: Symptoms have been present for at least 6 months, and for the last 3 months, the following criteria are met: recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort, with symptoms occurring on at least 3 days per month in the last 3 months, associated with two or more of the following: 1) Improvement with defecation; 2) Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; 3) Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool;
- The following symptoms support the diagnosis of IBS: 1) Abnormal stool frequency: <3 bowel movements per week or >3 bowel movements per day; 2) Abnormal stool form: lumpy/hard stool or mushy/watery stool; 3) Straining during defecation; 4) Urgency or a feeling of incomplete evacuation; 5) Passage of mucus; 6) Bloating.
Who cannot join
- History of anti-anxiety/depressant medication use (e.g., SSRI/SNRI, Chinese patent medicines) within the past 1 month;
- History of antibiotic or probiotic use within the past 1 month;
- Other gastrointestinal diseases such as IBD, intestinal obstruction, or history of gastrointestinal surgery;
- Current or past history of psychiatric or neurological disorders, such as psychosis, brain tumors, or impaired consciousness;
- Concurrent severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, or malignant tumors; 7.0T MRI Contraindications: Presence of ferromagnetic implants (e.g., cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, or any metallic foreign bodies); Non-ferromagnetic implants (e.g., titanium alloy, orthopedic implants), various types of intrauterine devices, various types of non-removable dentures (including dental implants); Presence of metallic foreign bodies (e.g., metal fragments, shrapnel, or filings in the eyes or body), such as in individuals engaged in welding work or with a history of metal item trauma; Tattoos or permanent makeup (e.g., eyebrows, lips) applied within the past month; Claustrophobia; Fever.
- HC Group Inclusion Criteria (all must be met):
Show all 9Show fewer
- Right-handed, aged 18-60 years, with more than 6 years of education;
- All physiological indicators are within normal ranges, with no signs of disease;
- No family history of psychiatric or neurological disorders.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University
Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710038
Linna Liu, PhD, 029-84717761, tangduec@126.com
About this study
Official title: Investigating the Brain-Gut Axis Regulatory Mechanism of Anxiety and Depression in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
This study aims to understand how the gut and the brain communicate in people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who also experience anxiety and depression. We want to see if changes in gut bacteria are linked to changes in brain function, and to find potential markers that could help in diagnosis or future treatments.
We are looking for two groups of volunteers aged 18 to 60 years: 1) 100 patients diagnosed with IBS who also have symptoms of anxiety or depression, and 2) 100 healthy volunteers for comparison. All participants must be right-handed.
Read more
Participants in this observational study will not receive any new drug or treatment. Instead, they will be asked to:
Complete questionnaires about their bowel symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep, and thinking skills.
Provide a stool sample (about 5 grams) and a blood sample (about 5 ml).
Undergo a brain scan using a 7 Tesla MRI machine, which will take about 45-50 minutes. They will need to lie still during the scan.
Some IBS patients may be invited for a follow-up visit after 3 months to repeat the questionnaires and sample collection.
There are minimal risks involved. The MRI scan is non-radioactive and considered very safe, but some people may feel uncomfortable or claustrophobic inside the machine. Giving blood may cause brief pain, bruising, or, very rarely, infection. Your privacy is protected. All personal information and data will be coded and kept confidential, and will only be used for this research.
The main benefit to participants is receiving a detailed health assessment, including advanced brain imaging and analysis of gut bacteria, at no cost. There is no direct therapeutic benefit from participating, but the knowledge gained may help improve the understanding and future care of IBS.
- Conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Anxiety, Depression
- Being tested
- Observational Study (No Intervention)
- Medical subject headings
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Anxiety Disorders, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Observational Study (No Intervention)Other
Observational Study (No Intervention)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| IBS Patients | Observational Study (No Intervention) Receives: Other: Observational Study (No Intervention) | |
| Healthy Controls | No Intervention Receives: Other: Observational Study (No Intervention) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Alteration in Brain-Gut Axis Functional Connectivity
Measured: To assess the change in the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel habit disturbances, as measured by validated scoring systems (e.g., IBS-SSS) from baseline to the end of the 3-month follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Jun 2026
- Study start21 Dec 2025
- Primary completion21 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Tang-Du HospitalThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Tang-Du Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, songjiajie, Tang-Du Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07646834
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- K202512-21
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 15 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigating the Brain-Gut Axis Regulatory Mechanism of Anxiety and Depression in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07646834
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- K202512-21
- Conditions
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Anxiety, Depression
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 200 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Tang-Du HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 21 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 15 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to understand how the gut and the brain communicate in people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) who also experience anxiety and depression. We want to see if changes in gut bacteria are linked to changes in brain function, and to find potential markers that could help in diagnosis or future treatments.
We are looking for two groups of volunteers aged 18 to 60 years: 1) 100 patients diagnosed with IBS who also have symptoms of anxiety or depression, and 2) 100 healthy volunteers for comparison. All participants must be right-handed.
Participants in this observational study will not receive any new drug or treatment. Instead, they will be asked to:
Complete questionnaires about their bowel symptoms, anxiety, depression, sleep, and thinking skills.
Provide a stool sample (about 5 grams) and a blood sample (about 5 ml).
Undergo a brain scan using a 7 Tesla MRI machine, which will take about 45-50 minutes. They will need to lie still during the scan.
Some IBS patients may be invited for a follow-up visit after 3 months to repeat the questionnaires and sample collection.
There are minimal risks involved. The MRI scan is non-radioactive and considered very safe, but some people may feel uncomfortable or claustrophobic inside the machine. Giving blood may cause brief pain, bruising, or, very rarely, infection. Your privacy is protected. All personal information and data will be coded and kept confidential, and will only be used for this research.
The main benefit to participants is receiving a detailed health assessment, including advanced brain imaging and analysis of gut bacteria, at no cost. There is no direct therapeutic benefit from participating, but the knowledge gained may help improve the understanding and future care of IBS.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| IBS Patients | – | Other: Observational Study (No Intervention)Observational Study (No Intervention) |
| Healthy Controls | – | Other: Observational Study (No Intervention)No Intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- Adults (18-60 years) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) meeting Rome IV criteria and healthy right-handed volunteers, all with at least 6 years of education.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Right-handed, aged 18-60 years, with more than 6 years of education;
- Meeting the Rome IV diagnostic criteria for IBS: Symptoms have been present for at least 6 months, and for the last 3 months, the following criteria are met: recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort, with symptoms occurring on at least 3 days per month in the last 3 months, associated with two or more of the following: 1) Improvement with defecation; 2) Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; 3) Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool;
- The following symptoms support the diagnosis of IBS: 1) Abnormal stool frequency: <3 bowel movements per week or >3 bowel movements per day; 2) Abnormal stool form: lumpy/hard stool or mushy/watery stool; 3) Straining during defecation; 4) Urgency or a feeling of incomplete evacuation; 5) Passage of mucus; 6) Bloating.
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- History of anti-anxiety/depressant medication use (e.g., SSRI/SNRI, Chinese patent medicines) within the past 1 month;
- History of antibiotic or probiotic use within the past 1 month;
- Other gastrointestinal diseases such as IBD, intestinal obstruction, or history of gastrointestinal surgery;
- Current or past history of psychiatric or neurological disorders, such as psychosis, brain tumors, or impaired consciousness;
- Concurrent severe hepatic or renal insufficiency, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, or malignant tumors; 7.0T MRI Contraindications: Presence of ferromagnetic implants (e.g., cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, or any metallic foreign bodies); Non-ferromagnetic implants (e.g., titanium alloy, orthopedic implants), various types of intrauterine devices, various types of non-removable dentures (including dental implants); Presence of metallic foreign bodies (e.g., metal fragments, shrapnel, or filings in the eyes or body), such as in individuals engaged in welding work or with a history of metal item trauma; Tattoos or permanent makeup (e.g., eyebrows, lips) applied within the past month; Claustrophobia; Fever.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Observational Study (No Intervention)Observational Study (No Intervention) | Other | Healthy Controls, IBS Patients |
Primary outcome
Alteration in Brain-Gut Axis Functional Connectivity
Time frame: To assess the change in the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel habit disturbances, as measured by validated scoring systems (e.g., IBS-SSS) from baseline to the end of the 3-month follow-up
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Anxiety, run by Tang-Du Hospital at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Alteration in Brain-Gut Axis Functional Connectivity (time frame: To assess the change in the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, and bowel habit disturbances, as measured by validated scoring systems (e.g., IBS-SSS) from baseline to the end of the 3-month follow-up). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Jun 2026.