Supportive-expressive group psychotherapy for persons with inflammatory bowel disease

Supportive-expressive (SE) group psychotherapy is designed to be applicable to medically ill populations. In this open trial, SE therapy was adapted for use in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Thirty subjects with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) were enrolled in 4 psychotherapy groups. Each group met weekly for 20 weeks to discuss emotional and interpersonal issues associated with illness. Physical and psychological variables were measured at the onset and at the finish of the group sessions.

There was no mean group change in quality of life (QL), anxiety, or depression over the course of treatment, although there was a mean group reduction in maladaptive coping.

Although the trial was uncontrolled and the sample size small, which limits interpretation, the results are consistent with an ineffective intervention. Because a null result would be consistent with previously reported psychotherapeutic trials in cases of IBD, and because SE therapy has been effective in treating other medically ill populations, we discuss characteristics of IBD that may account for a relative resistance to psychotherapeutic support.