Inflammatory bowel disease

Eva Szigethy; Laura McLafferty; Alka Goyal

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2011.06.007

Inflammatory bowel disease

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2011 Aug;58(4):903-20, x-xi. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2011.06.007.

Authors

Eva Szigethy¹, Laura McLafferty, Alka Goyal

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. szigethye@upmc.edu

PMID: 21855713
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2011.06.007

Abstract

This article reviews the etiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and associated psychological sequelae in children and adolescents with this lifelong disease. Pediatric-onset IBD, consisting of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, has significant medical morbidity and in many young persons is also associated with psychological and psychosocial challenges. Depression and anxiety are particularly prevalent and have a multifaceted etiology, including IBD-related factors such as cytokines and steroids used to treat IBD and psychosocial stress. A growing number of empirically supported interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, and educational resources, help youth and their parents cope with IBD as well as the psychological and psychosocial sequelae. While there is convincing evidence that such interventions can help improve anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life, their effects on IBD severity and course await further study.