Burden of Common Mental Disorders in Ulcerative Colitis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients: An Analysis of Risk...

Background: Common mental disorders are an underdiagnosed comorbidity, which can significantly worsen the prognosis of the main disease and decrease the quality of life. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression and anxiety in a cohort of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and to evaluate the risk factors for their occurrence. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 patients were evaluated. Multivariable analysis was used to determine associations between patient factors and common mental disorders, evaluated with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires. Results: We found a significantly higher prevalence of moderate and severe anxiety among patients with IBS-D, when compared with the UC group (p < 0.01). Linear regression analysis revealed an inverse association between anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies treatment and a higher PHQ-9 score (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that, in patients with UC, the presence of children has been associated with a higher GAD-7 score (p = 0.01), both individually and in combination with a higher duration of the disease. (p < 0.01). For IBS-D, a combination of active employment status and religious belief, active employment status and higher educational level, as well as religious belief and the presence of children correlated with higher GAD-7 scores (p = 0.03, p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: Infliximab used in the treatment for UC improved the parameters of depression. Patients with UC who have university education and a longer duration of the disease are at increased risk of developing depression and anxiety, especially if they have children in care. Regarding IBS-D patients who have an active work status, religious beliefs and caregivers are at increased risk of developing anxiety.