Active IBD Tied to Depression, Anxiety

Among adolescents and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), active disease is significantly associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to new findings.

Researchers arrived at this conclusion following a study of 374 patients with IBD aged 10 to 25 years. Approximately 60.4% of the cohort had Crohn disease. In addition, 75.4% of patients had disease in remission, while 19.8%, 2.7%, and 2.1% had mild, moderate, and severe clinical disease activity, respectively.

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Validated, age-specific questionnaires were used to screen patients for anxiety, depression, and quality of life, and patients with elevated scores were interviewed and assessed for psychiatric disorders.

Patient data were obtained from medical charts, and risk factors for anxiety and/or depression were identified via multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results indicated that 35.2% of patients in this study had mild symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, while 12.4% had severe symptoms.

The researchers noted that there was no difference between adolescents aged 10 to 17 years and young adults aged 18 to 25 years in elevated symptoms of anxiety (28.3%), depression (2.9%), or both (15.8%).

Active disease was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 4.6). In addition, symptoms of anxiety and/or depression were significantly predicted by female gender (OR 1.7), active disease (OR 1.9), and a shorter disease duration (OR 1.3).

“Considering the high prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, psychological screening is recommended in young IBD patients,” the researchers concluded. “Screening facilitates early recognition and psychological treatment. Female patients and patients with active disease are the most vulnerable.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

van den Brink G, Stapersma L, Vlug LE, et al. Clinical disease activity is associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms in adolescents and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease [Published online June 13, 2018]. Alimentary Pharmacol Ther. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14832