Effects of a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention Trial to Improve Disease Outcomes in Children with

Rona L Levy1, Miranda A L van Tilburg, Shelby L Langer

  • 1*School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; †Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; ‡Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; §Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; ‖Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; ¶School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin; **Department of Gastroenterology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington; ††Prime Health Clinic, Federal Way, Washington; ‡‡St. Charles Health System, Bend, Oregon; §§HealthPoint, Bothell, Washington; and ‖‖Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Insights

A cognitive behavioral intervention significantly reduced school absences and improved quality of life for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This approach also enhanced coping skills in children and reduced parental distress, potentially decreasing disease activity in some cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Behavioral Medicine

Background:

  • Limited research exists on behavioral interventions for psychosocial issues in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
  • This study reports 6-month follow-up outcomes from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating a cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) for children with IBD and their parents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the efficacy of a brief CBI for children with IBD and their parents.
  • To assess the impact of the intervention on psychosocial sequelae, child functioning, and disease activity.

Main Methods:

  • A large RCT involved 185 children (aged 8-17) diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and their parents.
  • Participants were randomized into a 3-session social learning and CBI group or an education support control group.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvements were observed in reduced school absences (P < 0.05) and enhanced child-reported quality of life (P < 0.05) at 6 months.
  • Parents reported increased adaptive child coping (P < 0.001) and reduced maladaptive responses (P < 0.05).
  • Exploratory analysis suggested fewer disease flares in children with higher baseline flare rates who received the CBI.

Conclusions:

  • A brief CBI for pediatric IBD patients and their parents improves child functioning and quality of life.
  • The intervention may also decrease disease activity in some children.
  • Findings support the use of CBI as an adjunct therapy for managing IBD in children.
Abstract

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