Use of complementary and alternative medicine and low quality of life associate with the need for psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions in inflammatory bowel disease.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suffer from various symptoms, impairing their quality of life and often affecting psychosocial issues. This may lead to the need for additional psychological care. This study investigated patients' subjective need for integrated psychosomatic support and psychotherapy and indicators for it. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional multicentre study in Austrian IBD patients who were in routine care at 18 IBD outpatient clinics. Patients filled in an anonymous, validated questionnaire (Assessment of the Demand for Additional Psychological Treatment Questionnaire [ADAPT]) assessing the need for psychological care. The ADAPT gives two separate scores: the need for integrated psychosomatic support and for psychotherapy. In addition, health-related quality of life and the use of complementary and alternative medicine as well as clinical and socio-demographic variables were queried. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of the previously mentioned variables on the need for additional psychological care. RESULTS: Of 1286 patients, 29.7% expressed a need for additional psychological care, 19.6% expressed a need for integrated psychosomatic support and 20.2% expressed a need for psychotherapy. In the multivariable analysis, the two strongest indicators for the need for both types of psychological care were the use of complementary and alternative medicine (for integrated psychosomatic support: odds ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval 1.13-2.39, p = 0.010; for psychotherapy: odds ratio = 1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.20-2.53, p = 0.004), and a low health-related quality of life score (for integrated psychosomatic support: odds ratio = 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.94-0.96, p < 0.001; for psychotherapy: odds ratio = 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.94-0.97, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: About 30% of the Austrian IBD patients expressed a need for integrated psychosomatic support and/or psychotherapy. The most important indicators for this need were the use of complementary and alternative medicine and low quality of life.

Prevalence and indicators of use of complementary and alternative medicine in Austrian patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVE: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) seems to be frequently used among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to determine the prevalence and indicators of CAM use in Austrian IBD patients. METHODS: In a multicentre cross-sectional study, adult patients with IBD attending 18 Austrian outpatient clinics completed a multi-item questionnaire that recorded use of CAM as well as medical and socioeconomic characteristics. Patients were recruited between June 2014 and June 2015. The study outcome was the prevalence of CAM use and its socioeconomic and disease-related associations. RESULTS: A total of 1286 patients (Crohn's disease 830, ulcerative colitis 435, IBD unclassified 21; females 651) with a median age of 40 years (interquartile range 31-52 years) and a median disease duration of 10 years (4-18 years) were analysed. The prevalence of previous and/or current CAM use was 50.7%, with similar results for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In the multivariable analysis, female gender and a university education were independent socioeconomic indicators of CAM use. IBD-related indicators were longer duration of the disease and previous and/or current treatment with steroids and TNF-α inhibitors. CONCLUSION: CAM use for IBD is frequent in Austrian IBD patients and associated with female gender, higher educational level of university degree, longer duration of the disease, and treatment with steroids and TNF-α inhibitors.

Diagnostic delay in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Austria.

BACKGROUND: Delayed diagnosis seems to be common in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The study was carried out to investigate the diagnostic delay and associated risk factors in Austrian IBD patients. METHODS: In a multicenter cross-sectional study adult patients with IBD attending 18 Austrian outpatient clinics completed a multi-item questionnaire that recorded medical and socioeconomic characteristics. The study outcome was diagnostic delay defined as the period from symptom onset to diagnosis of IBD. RESULTS: A total of 1286 patients (Crohn's disease 830, ulcerative colitis 435, inflammatory bowel disease unclassified 21; females 651) with a median age of 40 years (interquartile range 31-52 years) and a median disease duration of 10 years (4-18 years) were analyzed. The median diagnostic delay was 6 months (2-23 months) in Crohn's disease and 3 months (1-10 months) in ulcerative colitis (p < 0.001). In the multivariable regression analysis Crohn's disease, greater age at diagnosis and a high educational level (compared to middle degree level) were independently associated with longer diagnostic delay. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic delay was longer in Crohn's disease than in ulcerative colitis patients and was associated with greater age at diagnosis and a higher educational level.