The bidirectional effects of hemorrhoids, depression, and anxiety: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank
This study identifies a significant bidirectional association between hemorrhoidal disease and mental health conditions. Notably, the interaction between smoking and anxiety highlights a subgroup at elevated risk that may benefit from closer clinical attention. These findings support an integrated care perspective that considers both gastrointestinal and mental health conditions, while acknowledging that causal inferences cannot be definitively established from observational data.
Authors
- Xinchang Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5534-6741)
- Zhiguang Huang
- Wai-kit Ming
- Jian Huang
- Xinyao Yi
- Shaolin Liang
- Yan He
Institutions
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- City University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Fudan University (CN)
- Hong Kong Jockey Club (HK)
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SG)
- City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Research Institute (CN)
- Institut de Recherche et d’Innovation (FR)
- Bioinformatics Institute (SG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Annals of General Psychiatry
- Published
- 2026-02-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-026-00634-9
- Primary Topic
- Anorectal Disease Treatments and Outcomes
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- City University of Hong Kong