{
  "id": 3327066,
  "title": "Bowel urgency in ulcerative colitis linked to disease-related disability",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/bowel-urgency-in-ulcerative-colitis-linked-to-disease-related",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-25T18:40:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-bowel-urgency-ulcerative-colitis-linked.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This study, published in Gastro Hep Advances, reveals a strong link between bowel urgency and disability among adults with ulcerative colitis (UC). Dr. Chung Sang Tse and colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania conducted a study involving 241 patients with UC to investigate this relationship. They found that 48% of patients experienced moderate-to-severe bowel urgency, with 75% of those without diarrhea or rectal bleeding also reporting urgency. The researchers discovered that bowel urgency is strongly correlated with disability, with a correlation coefficient (ρ) of 0.597. Negative illness perceptions, lower self-efficacy, and higher health-related social needs were found to mediate the association between bowel urgency and disability. Gastrointestinal symptoms accounted for 40% of the variance in disability, while psychosocial factors contributed an additional 19%. The authors emphasize that psychotherapists treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease should be aware of this link, as bowel urgency may underlie or worsen social anxiety and behavioral avoidance.",
  "summary": "Bowel urgency is common among adults with ulcerative colitis (UC), especially those without diarrhea or rectal bleeding, and is associated with disease-related disability, according to a study published recently in Gastro Hep Advances.",
  "key_points": [
    "48% of UC patients experience moderate-to-severe bowel urgency",
    "Bowel urgency strongly correlated with disability (ρ = 0.597)",
    "Psychotherapists should address bowel urgency in IBD patients"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}