Summary of a recently published abstract, presented at the ECCO Conference in Stockholm 18-21 February 2026
Jacqueline Black and Dr Wladzia Czuber-Dochan, King’s College, London
Being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. Many people with UC report feeling anxious, worried or low in mood, particularly during the first year after diagnosis. However, we still know relatively little about what specifically causes stress during this early period and what helps people cope. To explore these experiences in more depth, we carried out a study examining how people navigate stress in the early stages of UC.
We recently presented our findings at the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation conference, an international meeting that brings together researchers and healthcare professionals focused on improving care for people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Our study involved indepth interviews with ten people recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, who shared their personal experiences of stress and described the factors that made those stresses easier or harder to manage.
Participants described facing both emotional and practical difficulties as they adjusted to living with UC. The impact of symptoms often made people re-evaluate how they viewed their health and identity. Many found that physical symptoms and emotional wellbeing were closely connected, and that having to adapt their lives to colitis presented a significant burden.
Our findings suggest support from others, including healthcare professionals, is key to reducing stress. People newly diagnosed with UC need their emotions to be acknowledged, to receive realistic but empowering guidance about managing their condition, and practical support to help them manage day-to-day challenges. Reflecting the reality of living with colitis in healthcare service design and improving online resources to support daily life could make a real difference in helping people face the challenges UC presents.
A full research paper, including the complete analysis, will be published later this year. Read the abstract in Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, see the poster below, and read more about this study in our Research Hub.
