A large nationwide study from Sweden suggests that mental health problems may begin years before inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is diagnosed, highlighting the need to treat both the gut and the brain together. Even compared with siblings, people with IBD faced a significantly higher risk of psychiatric disorders, suggesting that shared genetics or early-life environment alone cannot explain the association. The study found that the risk of psychiatric illness increased two to three years before diagnosis, peaked during the first six months after diagnosis with a 50% higher risk, and remained 19% higher even after 10 years. Researchers also observed that prescriptions for antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications began rising about one year before IBD diagnosis and stayed elevated for at least five years afterward. Psychiatric Disorders Before and After Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnosis: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Sweden 2007 to 2023.