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Depression and anxiety in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and cystic fibrosis
Insights
Children with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have higher rates of depression and dysthymia compared to cystic fibrosis. These findings highlight the importance of mental health screening in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Child Psychiatry
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) affecting children.
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder impacting multiple organs, primarily the lungs.
- Mental health comorbidities like depression and anxiety are common in chronic childhood illnesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the lifetime and current prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in children with CD, UC, and CF.
- To compare the rates of these disorders across the three pediatric conditions.
- To identify potential differences in mental health outcomes based on specific chronic diseases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) interview.
- Assessed 41 children with CD, 12 with UC, and 52 with CF.
- Analyzed lifetime and current prevalence rates of major depression, atypical depression, dysthymia, and anxiety disorders.
Main Results:
- Lifetime depression prevalence was significantly higher in CD (29%) and UC (21%) compared to CF (11.5%).
- Dysthymia prevalence was significantly greater in UC versus CD and CF.
- Atypical depression was significantly higher in CD and UC compared to CF.
Conclusions:
- Children with pediatric IBD (CD and UC) exhibit higher rates of depression and dysthymia than those with CF.
- These findings underscore the need for routine mental health assessments in pediatric patients with chronic gastrointestinal and respiratory conditions.
- Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted interventions.
Abstract:
The lifetime and current prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders was determined in 41 children with Crohn's disease, 12 children with ulcerative colitis, and 52 children with cystic fibrosis, using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia interview. The lifetime prevalence of depression was 29% in Crohn's disease, 21% in ulcerative colitis, and 11.5% in cystic fibrosis. The difference in the prevalence of depression between Crohn's disease and cystic fibrosis was significant (p less than 0.05). The lifetime and current prevalence of dysthymia was significantly greater in ulcerative colitis than Crohn's disease (p less than 0.01) or cystic fibrosis (p less than 0.01). The lifetime prevalence of atypical depression was significantly greater in Crohn's disease than cystic fibrosis (22% versus 5.8%, p less than 0.05) and was also greater in ulcerative colitis than cystic fibrosis (21% versus 5.8%, p = 0.1). There was no difference between the groups in the current prevalence of major depression or atypical depression, or in the lifetime or current prevalence of anxiety disorders.