High rates of ASD, ADHD seen in patients with IBS

Adults with moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) appear to have high rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to researchers in Sweden.

Gustav Orell and colleagues screened 110 adult patients with moderate to severe IBS for ASD and ADHD, using the Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale-14 to screen for ASD and the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale to screen for ADHD. Patients also filled out questionnaires detailing their IBS symptom severity and describing any somatic symptoms they experienced. (Somatic symptoms are physical symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath, that are influenced by psychological factors.) All participants underwent a rectal balloon barostat test, used to measure sensitivity of the visceral organs.

The researchers report, “In total, 34 of 110 participants screened positive for ASD and 45 of 110 for ADHD, and 26 among those screened positive for both conditions.” Comparing IBS patients with ASD and/or ADHD to IBS patients without either condition, they found that IBS symptom severity was elevated in participants screening positive for ADHD, while somatic symptom severity was elevated in participants with ASD and/or ADHD. Barostat thresholds were lower in participants screening positive for ASD— indicating increased visceral sensitivity— but higher for those screening positive for ADHD. Anxiety scores were elevated in participants screening positive for ADHD.

“Notably,” they say, “a majority of the IBS patients who screened positive for ASD and/or ADHD in the present study had not been previously diagnosed with ASD or ADHD.” However, they note that the prevalence of a previous ASD or ADHD diagnosis was more than twice that seen in the general population.

The researchers say their findings suggest that identifying patients with IBS who have ASD and/or ADHD, tailoring treatment interventions to better suit their needs, and involving a team of clinicians in their treatment could optimize outcomes.

Citations

“Traits of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in irritable bowel syndrome with pronounced symptoms,” Gustav Orell, Nawroz Barazanji, Elisabeth Fernell, Christopher Gillberg, Greger Lindberg, and Susanna Walter, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, April 23, 2026 (free online). Address: Gustav Orell, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden, [email protected].