Reading Time: < 1 minuteIntroduction Depression and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, frequently coexist, particularly among American males aged 30-60, where prevalence rates exceed 15% in cohort studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This comorbidity exacerbates gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms via the gut-brain axis, involving bidirectional signaling between neural, endocrine, and immune pathways. Escitalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is a first-line pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder (MDD), yet its impact on IBD pathophysiology remains underexplored. This cohort study investigates escitalopram's efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms without compromising gut health in a U.S.-based male population, addressing a … Continue reading →