Practice Survey: Depression Screening in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Mental Health in Chronic Illness
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Depression screening practices in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care are not well-documented.
• This study addresses the current state of depression screening within the ImproveCareNow Collaborative Network.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize and analyze current depression screening practices in pediatric IBD centers.
• To identify common screening tools, intervention strategies, and barriers to routine screening.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to pediatric IBD providers across 79 IBD centers.
• The survey collected data on current depression screening protocols and procedures.

Main Results:

• Half of surveyed centers conduct annual depression screening, primarily for patients aged 12-14 years.
• The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is the most frequently used screening tool.
• Positive screens lead to psychotherapy referrals or immediate psychosocial provider consultation; suicidal ideation triggers emergency referrals or consultations.
• Key barriers include insufficient personnel/resources, billing issues, and limited clinic time.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric IBD centers are implementing depression screening and targeted interventions, involving psychosocial providers.
• Understanding these screening efforts is crucial for advancing clinical care and improving patient outcomes in pediatric IBD.