TOPLINE:

Patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) had higher proportions of anxiety and depressive symptoms than the general population and showed sex differences. Substantial fatigue and lower self‑efficacy were linked to increased odds of anxiety and depressive symptoms.

METHODOLOGY: 

• IBD has been linked to increased levels of anxiety and depression. Researchers assessed symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).
• They used data from a prospective population-based Norwegian cohort of adults newly diagnosed with IBD between 2017 and 2019 and a large general population cohort for comparison.
• Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), with a cutoff score of 8 and above on each subscale indicating possible symptoms. Analyses were stratified by sex and diagnosis.
• Researchers also assessed clinical disease activity, fecal calprotectin levels, self-efficacy, fatigue, and other disease-related factors using relevant scales and questionnaires.

TAKEAWAY:

• A total of 938 adults newly diagnosed with IBD completed HADS, of whom 297 had CD (mean age, 39.7 years) and 641 had UC (mean age, 39.6 years). A total of 41,916 adults were included in the general population cohort; women comprised 47.6%-59.3% of the cohorts overall.
• Anxiety symptoms were more frequently observed in patients with IBD than in the general population (37.4% for CD and 32.1% for UC vs 17.5%); depressive symptoms were also higher in patients with IBD (21.9% for CD and 16.8% for UC vs 9.4%).
• Higher proportions of women with CD or UC had anxiety and depressive symptoms than women in the general population. Men with CD had higher rates of both conditions, whereas men with UC had higher rates of anxiety only (P < .05 for most comparisons).
• Substantial fatigue was associated with significantly increased odds of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with IBD, whereas self-efficacy was associated with reduced odds (P < .001 for all).

IN PRACTICE:

“The findings in this study emphasize the importance of integrating psychological health screening and support into the routine care of newly diagnosed patients with IBD. Healthcare providers should prioritize early identification of psychological health challenges to enable timely and targeted interventions,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Ingunn Johansen, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. It was published online in the Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis.

LIMITATIONS: 

The study had a 62.1% HADS response rate, and responders differed from nonresponders in certain aspects. Researchers relied on patient‑reported measures and lacked data on anxiety or depression before diagnosis. HADS served as a screening tool, and scores of 8 and above did not confirm clinical diagnoses.

DISCLOSURES:

The study received support from the Østfold University College. The study that was used to retrieve data on patients with IBD received funding from multiple pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. Several authors reported financial ties, including serving as speakers, consultants, or advisory board members, and receiving grants from various commercial sources.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.