Objective To explore the experiences and causes of alienation in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), so as to provide a reference for developing targeted intervention strategies. Methods The descriptive qualitative research method was used, a total of 15 patients with IBD were selected by purposive sampling, and semi-structured interviews were conducted.Then the interview data were analyzed and related themes were refined according to content analysis. Results Three themes and thirteen subthemes were extracted:the objective manifestation of patients′ alienation (disease alienation, interpersonal alienation, self-alienation, labor alienation and environmental alienation), the subjective feeling of patients′ alienation (powerlessness,worthlessness, aloneness, world-weariness), the causes of patients′ alienation (body image disturbance, over management of disease, emotional psychological barriers, social skills impairments). Conclusion Patients with IBD have multi-dimensional alienation, with obvious and strong negative emotions.The causes of their alienation are various and complex.In the future, it is necessary to develop multi-dimensional intervention strategies to alleviate their alienation, and promote them to accept their disease, identify themselves, integrate into society, and live a positive life.