Prospective Study of Psychological Morbidity and Illness Perceptions in Young People With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Psychological morbidity is increased in young people with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Illness perceptions may be an important factor. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and severity of psychological morbidity and to examine relationships between baseline illness perceptions and anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life [HRQoL], at baseline and 12 months later, in 16-21 year olds with IBD.

IBD patients [n = 121] completed measures of anxiety, depression, HRQoL, and illness perceptions [IPQ-R] at baseline and follow-up [n = 100, 83%].

Among the 121 patients at baseline [median age 19.3 years, 40% female, 62% Crohn's disease, 73% in clinical remission], 55% reported elevated symptoms of anxiety/depression and 83% reported low HRQoL. Negative illness perceptions at baseline were significantly correlated with greater anxiety, depression, and lower HRQoL at baseline and follow-up. In regression analysis at baseline, the IPQ-R domain of greater perception of a cyclical nature of IBD was an independent predictor of anxiety, and a greater perceived emotional impact of IBD was an independent predictor of anxiety, depression, and HRQoL. Female gender and clinical relapse were also independent predictors of lower HRQoL. After controlling for baseline measures, clinical risk factors and illness perceptions did not explain additional variance in psychological morbidity at follow-up.

A high prevalence of psychological morbidity, stable over 1 year, was demonstrated in young people with IBD. Having negative illness perceptions, being female, and having active disease predicted those at greatest risk of psychological morbidity. Illness perceptions may be an appropriate target for psychological interventions.