Psychosocial profile of the patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, disabling entity of unknown aetiology, with negative impact on the patient's life, including psychological patterns. This study assessed multiple psychosocial factors (satisfaction with life, coping mechanisms, emotional profile, mental recognition of the disease and cognition schemes related to patients' demographic characteristics, clinical picture, form and duration of the disease, therapeutic plans) in IBD patients vs. a healthy group. This non-interventional study comprised 60 participants who attended for medical advice/check-up as an ambulatory visit or during hospitalization. The patients completed questionnaires after receiving explanations from the psychologist. Statistical analyses (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Independent-Samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA and Post Hoc Multiple Comparisons) were conducted using IMB for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20 (P≤0.05). IBD patients (G1) are more hostile when compared to the healthy group (G2). Those who experience abdominal pain are more likely to use active coping mechanisms and those who experience fatigue are more likely to use acceptance, emotional venting, behavioural disengagement and mental disengagement. G1 have higher levels of others-downing vs. G2. Regarding negative emotions, IBD patients generally experience more negative emotions compared to healthy participants (who have higher levels of life satisfaction). Regarding the perception of illness, there are no differences between patients in terms of illness coherence, personal or treatment control, consequences, timeline, or emotional representations. Results indicate that psychological factors and different characteristics of IBD patients play a relevant role in the way these patients deal with their disease.