Model psychosocial care for youth with inflammatory bowel disease

Youth with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are at an increased risk for mental health concerns compared to healthy peers. Given the unique psychosocial risk factors involved in living with IBD, it can be challenging to identify what level of psychological support is needed, which professionals may be best suited to intervene, and what setting would be appropriate.

In this narrative review we have applied the pediatric psychosocial preventative health model (PPPHM) to pediatric IBD by delineating 3 tiers of psychosocial need and associated evidence-based psychological interventions.

The PPPHM describes universal, targeted, and clinical/treatment psychosocial needs. All youth with IBD benefit from universal support, such as psychosocial screening, education, and social support. As psychosocial needs are identified, providers may consider whether they need targeted or clinical/treatment levels of care. Targeted needs may include general mental health concerns (eg, grief), and psychosocial concerns related to their IBD that could benefit from psychological consultation or brief interventions (eg, pill swallowing). For young people with psychosocial concerns that are associated with significant distress or impairment, higher levels of psychological care, including outpatient referrals, may be beneficial.

Ultimately, identification of the intensity of psychosocial needs and associated appropriate levels of intervention for youth with IBD can be challenging to ascertain. However, with this review we hope to simplify that process so IBD providers with a variety of professional backgrounds and resources can help assess and connect patients with the appropriate support.