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Should we incorporate psychological care into the management of IBD?

Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 3, pages 416–417 (2006)Cite this article

Clinical attention to the psychological factors associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) might have consequences that affect not only the psychological wellbeing and quality of life of patients with IBD, but also the activity of the disease itself. IBD has a negative effect on all aspects of quality of life, but it impairs emotional behavior the most—for example, the development of depressive mood or anxiety during and after phases of active disease.1

The frequency of psychological disturbances in patients with Crohn's disease seems to be slightly higher (up to 50%) than in patients with other chronic diseases.2 Studies suggest that children and adolescents with IBD are at high risk for developing a psychiatric disorder.2 Changes in the activity of disease over time significantly affect levels of psychological distress, and are closely related to increases and decreases in anxiety and depression.2 The degree of psychological disturbance seems to correlate with disease severity, and psychological factors are considered by clinicians to have a moderate influence on the course of the disease.3

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Professor and Head of the Outpatient Clinic for Psychosomatics at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Gabriele Moser

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  1. Gabriele Moser
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Correspondence to Gabriele Moser.

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Moser, G. Should we incorporate psychological care into the management of IBD?. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 3, 416–417 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep0549

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