Bridging the gap: Unveiling the crisis of physical inactivity in inflammatory bowel diseases.

In this editorial we comment on the article titled "Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity: The BE-FIT-IBD study" published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology 2023; 29 (41): 5668-5682. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are emerging as a significant global health concern as their incidence continues to rise on a global scale, with detrimental impacts on quality of life. While many advances have been made regarding the management of the disease, physical inactivity in these patients represents an underexplored issue that may hold the key for further and better understanding the ramifications of IBD. Chronic pain, fatigue, and fear of exacerbating symptoms promotes physical inactivity among IBD patients, while the lack of clear guidelines on safe exercise regimens contributes to a norm of physical inactivity. Physical activity (PA) is accepted to have a positive effect on disease outcomes and quality of life, while inactivity exacerbates comorbidities like cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders. The "BE-FIT-IBD" study, focusing on PA levels and barriers in IBD patients of Southern Italy, revealed that a significant proportion (42.9%) were physically inactive. This lack of PA is attributed to barriers such as fear of flare-ups and misconceptions about exercise exacerbating the disease. The study also highlighted the need for better communication between healthcare providers and patients regarding the benefits of PA and safe incorporation into lifestyles. Moreover, physical inactivity may also contribute to disability in IBD patients, having a great impact on employment status. Of note is the fact that IBD also comes with an important psychological burden with relevant evidence suggesting that regular PA can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and enhance mental health. The "BE-FIT-IBD" study advocated for the integration of PA into IBD management, emphasizing the bidirectional link between PA and IBD. Regular exercise can influence the course of IBD, potentially reducing symptom severity and prolonging remission periods. As such, it is mandatory that healthcare providers actively educate patients, dispel misconceptions, and tailor exercise recommendations to improve the quality of life and reduce IBD-related complications.

Freiburg personality inventory in inflammatory bowel disease: diagnosis and psychotherapeutic needs / Inventario de personalidad de Freiburg en la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal: diagnóstico y necesidades psicoterapéuticas

A pesar de los descubrimientos recientes, los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) aún enfrentan desafíos para lograr la remisión. Los objetivos del estudio fueron identificar las características de los pacientes con el Inventario de Personalidad de Freiburg y la intensidad de la enfermedad colónica, comorbilidades que podrían estar relacionadas con la personalidad de los sujetos. Los datos se recopilaron en el período 2019-2020 de 46 pacientes y utilizaron métodos no paramétricos. En comparación con el grupo de control, las escalas de Inhibición, Problemas de salud y Emocionalidad tenían puntuaciones brutas significativamente más altas. Las escalas de Orientación Social, Franqueza y Extraversión tuvieron puntajes brutos significativamente más bajos. El estado de salud fue un factor médico que influyó en la escala de Quejas Somáticas, los pacientes que tenían lesiones o comorbilidades tenían puntuaciones brutas significativamente más altas. Los pacientes que tenían comorbilidades además de la EII tenían puntuaciones brutas considerablemente más altas en la escala de Excitabilidad. Se requieren intervenciones psicoterapéuticas de cambio en la percepción de la vida para abordar la descripción del sufrimiento subjetivo relacionado con molestias físicas (escala de quejas somáticas), una fuerte orientación hacia el rendimiento (escala de tensión), cambios de humor, ansiedad y pesimismo (escala de emocionalidad). Otra intervención es la reconsideración y (re)priorización de valores, como la familia, las relaciones íntimas, los amigos, la salud, el crecimiento, el desarrollo, el trabajo equilibrado, todos los cuales pueden promover una sensación de bienestar y equilibrio.(AU)

Despite recent discoveries, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) still face challenges with attainment of remission. The objectives of the study were to identify the characteristics of patients with the Freiburg Personality Inventory and the intensity of the intestinal disease, comorbidities that could be related to the personality of the subjects. Data were collected in the period 2019–2020 from 46 patients and used nonparametric methods. Compared to the normative sample, the Inhibitedness, Health Concerns, and Emotionality scales had significantly higher raw scores. The Social Orientation, Frankness, and Extraversionscales had significantly lower raw scores. Health status was a medical factor that influenced the Somatic Complaintsscale, patients who had lesions or comorbidities had significantly higher raw scores. Patients who had comorbidities in addition to IBD had considerably higher raw scores on the Excitability scale. Psychotherapeutic change interventions regarding life perception are required to tackle the description of subjective suffering related to physical inconveniences (Somatic Complaintsscale), a strong orientation toward performance (Strainscale), mood swings, anxiety, and pessimism (Emotionality scale). Another intervention is reconsidering values and (re) prioritization, such as family, intimate relationships, friends, health, growth, development, balanced work, all of which can promote a feeling of well-being and balance.(AU)

Geographic differences in psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A multicenter study in China.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the geographic differences in psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and quality of life (QoL) among adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: A unified questionnaire was developed to collect data on psychological status and QoL of IBD patients from 42 hospitals across 22 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China's mainland from September 2021 to May 2022. RESULTS: A total of 2478 patients with IBD were surveyed. The proportions of patients with anxiety (28.5% vs 23.1%), depression (32.3% vs 27.8%), and poor QoL (44.8% vs 32.2%) were significantly higher in patients from the northern region compared to the southern region (all P < 0.05). In the western region, the proportions of patients with anxiety (31.9% vs 23.0%), depression (37.7% vs 26.7%), sleep disturbances (64.5% vs 58.5%), and poor QoL (44.9% vs 34.8%) were significantly higher than in the eastern and central regions (all P < 0.01). Patients from inland regions had significantly higher rates of anxiety (27.1% vs 23.3%), depression (32.5% vs 26.0%), sleep disturbance (62.0% vs 57.7%), and poor QoL (43.5% vs 29.9%) compared to those from coastal regions (all P < 0.05). In economically underdeveloped areas, the proportions of patients with depression (33.1% vs 28.5%) and poor QoL (52.0% vs 32.4%) were significantly higher than in economically (relatively) developed areas (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There are significant geographic differences in psychological symptoms, sleep quality, and QoL among Chinese patients with IBD, which might provide valuable insights for global IBD research and clinical practice.

Young people's priorities for the self-management of distress after stoma surgery due to inflammatory bowel disease: A consensus study using online nominal group technique.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to gain consensus among young people with a stoma due to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on the priorities for the content of an intervention for the self-management of stoma-related distress. The current identification and management of distress in young people with a stoma is often suboptimal in clinical settings and there is a need for improved support resources. METHODS: Two consensus group meetings were carried out via online video conferencing, using nominal group technique. Participants generated, rated on a Likert scale and discussed, topics for inclusion in a future self-management intervention. RESULTS: Nineteen young people, aged 19-33, with a stoma due to IBD took part in one of two group meetings. Participants were located across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Twenty-nine topics were generated by participants, seven of which reached consensus of ≥80%, that is, a mean of ≥5.6 on a 7-point Likert scale. These were: receiving advice from young people with lived experience of stoma surgery; advice on/addressing concerns about romantic relationships, sex and intimacy; information about fertility and pregnancy related to stoma surgery; stoma 'hacks', for example, useful everyday tips regarding clothing, making bag changes easier and so forth; reflecting on and recognising own emotional response to surgery; tips on managing the stoma during the night; and processing trauma related to the illness and surgery journey. CONCLUSIONS: Findings extend previous research on young people's experiences of stoma surgery, by generating consensus on young people's priorities for managing distress related to surgery and living with a stoma. These priorities include topics not previously reported in the literature, including the need for information about fertility and pregnancy. Findings will inform the development of a self-management resource for young people with an IBD stoma and have relevance for the clinical management of stoma-related distress in this population. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Three patient contributors are co-authors on this paper, having contributed to the study design, interpretation of results and writing of the manuscript. The study's Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement advisory group also had an integral role in the study. They met with the research team for four 2-h virtual meetings, giving input on the aims and purpose of the study, recruitment methods, and interpretation of findings. The group also advised on the age range for participants. The views of young people with a stoma are the central component of the study reported in this paper, which aims to gain consensus among young people with an IBD stoma on their priorities for the content of a resource to self-manage distress related to stoma surgery.

Psychological symptoms and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in China: A multicenter study.

AIMS: To investigate the current situation of mental psychology and quality of life (QoL) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in China, and analyze the influencing factors. METHODS: A unified questionnaire was developed to collect clinical data on IBD patients from 42 hospitals in 22 provinces from September 2021 to May 2022. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted, and independent influencing factors were screened out to construct nomogram. The consistency index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve (AUC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the discrimination, accuracy, and clinical utility of the nomogram model. RESULTS: A total of 2478 IBD patients were surveyed, including 1371 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 1107 patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Among them, 25.5%, 29.7%, 60.2%, and 37.7% of IBD patients had anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and poor QoL, respectively. The proportion of anxiety, depression, and poor QoL in UC patients was significantly higher than that in CD patients (all p < 0.05), but there was no difference in sleep disturbance between them (p = 0.737). Female, higher disease activity and the first visit were independent risk factors for anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance in IBD patients (all p < 0.05). The first visit, higher disease activity, abdominal pain and diarrhea symptoms, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance were independent risk factors for the poor QoL of patients (all p < 0.05). The AUC value of the nomogram prediction model for predicting poor QoL was 0.773 (95% CI: 0.754-0.792). The calibration diagram of the model showed that the calibration curve fit well with the ideal curve, and DCA showed that the nomogram model could bring clinical benefits. CONCLUSION: IBD patients have higher anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance, which affect their QoL. The nomogram prediction model we constructed has high accuracy and performance when predicting QoL.

Health discussion network characteristics among a sample of people with inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the health discussion networks (HDNs) of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We sought to test if HDN characteristics were associated with IBD management self-efficacy outcomes. METHODS: We recruited a sample of adults with IBD (N = 112) in December 2020 to take an online survey. Participants listed up to five people (alters) who they discussed their health with, and we used those data to construct individual HDNs. Participants provided demographic information about alters, and characterized alter by relationship, closeness, and support provided. We used multivariable regression to examine associations of HDN characteristics with IBD symptoms, remission, and emotions management self-efficacy outcomes. RESULTS: Participants reported data for 412 alters (mean HDN size: 3.68). Alters were mostly friends (40%) or family members (36%); few were healthcare workers (6%). In multivariable analyses, HDN size was associated with remission and emotions management self-efficacy (ps < .05), and the amount of support offered by alters was associated with emotions management self-efficacy (p < .05). DISCUSSION: HDN size and alter support variables were associated with some IBD management self-efficacy outcomes among our study sample. These findings provide empirical evidence about HDNs among people with IBD and support the notion that disease management is a collective effort.

Natural history and impact of irritable bowel syndrome-type symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease during 12 months of longitudinal follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the natural history and impact of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-type symptoms on psychological health and quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to address this in a 12-month longitudinal follow-up study of secondary care patients. METHODS: We collected demographic, Rome III IBS-type symptom, psychological, and quality of life data, with questionnaires at 3-month intervals, over 12 months of follow-up in patients with IBD in clinical remission at baseline. We assessed the natural history of Rome III IBS-type symptoms over the 12 months of the study and compared psychological and quality of life data between those reporting Rome III IBS-type symptoms at each of the points of follow-up with those not reporting such symptoms. KEY RESULTS: Among 206 patients with IBD in clinical remission at baseline (104 [50.5%] women, mean age 56.9 years [range 18-83 years], 79 [38.3%] Crohn's disease), 33 (16.0%) reported Rome III IBS-type symptoms at baseline and 72 (35.0%) reported Rome III IBS-type symptoms at one or more time points. Among the 33 patients with Rome III IBS-type symptoms at baseline, symptoms resolved in 6 (18.2%) patients, were present throughout in 6 (18.2%) patients, and fluctuated in the remaining 21 (63.6%) patients. Among the 39 patients with new onset of Rome III IBS-type symptoms after baseline, 24 (65.1%) had symptoms at one point in time only, 10 (25.6%) at two points, four (10.3%) at three points, and one (2.6%) at four points. At each point in time, reporting IBS-type symptoms was associated with significantly higher anxiety, depression, or somatoform symptom-reporting scores, and/or lower quality of life scores. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: In this 12-month follow-up study, one-third of patients with IBD reported presence of Rome III IBS-type symptoms at any point in time. Reporting such symptoms was associated with significant impacts on psychological health and/or quality of life.

Factors influencing the quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease: A comprehensive review.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic relapsing disorders, including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), which affects an increasing number of people worldwide. In the last few decades, the scientific world has witnessed many developments in IBD management by controlling debilitating symptoms and remaining in remission for more protracted periods. Even so, we still have a large population suffering from active IBD. An individual's quality of life (QoL) can be severely affected by IBD, like any other chronic illness. In this article, we have reviewed factors influencing the QoL in IBD patients, including chronic pain, diet, physical activity, and psychological factors like depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. We also discussed the mechanisms of diet-microbial-immune system interaction, currently available dietary therapies for active CD and UC, and early psycho-social interventions that can reduce the disease burden and improve QoL in IBD patients.

Psychological disorders and coping strategies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Their impact on health-related quality of life

Background and objectives: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has a major impact on psychological well-being. This condition is associated with a high level of anxiety and mood disorders, but stress prevalence and how an individual copes with IBD have not been sufficiently explored. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the disease on psychological disorders and to identify coping strategies used by patients with IBD, as well as to analyze the relationship between these variables and sociodemographic and clinical variables. Methods: a cross-sectional prospective study was performed including 126 consecutive patients. Those with psychiatric conditions prior to the onset of the IBD were excluded. Independent variables were measured using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. The patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the BRIEF COPE questionnaire. Quality of life was measured using the nine-item IBD Quality of Life (IBDQ-9). Results: the final cohort comprised 100 patients (37 with ulcerative colitis and 63 with Crohn’s disease). The prevalence rates of the variables of stress, anxiety and depression were high (44 %, 24 % and 14 %, respectively). Stress and depression were higher in females (p < 0.05), without differences regarding other sociodemographic and clinical variables. Moreover, higher levels of anxiety and depression were found to be associated with stress and dysfunctional coping strategies (p < 0.01). Conclusions: patients with IBD, particularly women, have high rates of psychological disorders. Those with anxiety and depression presented more stress and used more dysfunctional strategies. These conditions must be considered for a multidisciplinary management. (AU)

People with IBD evidence more microarousals during sleep architecture assessments.

OBJECTIVE: Poor sleep is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may be associated with overall worse disease outcomes. While the sleep/IBD literature is growing, the data are often self-reported. Further, much of the research using objective measures of sleep architecture, or the overall pattern of sleep depth, rely on single-night assessments, which can be of questionable validity. DESIGN: Participants with IBD and healthy controls were recruited from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center as part of a two-phase clinical trial. Sleep architecture was assessed using three nights of in-home electroencephalographic monitoring and scored according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines. RESULTS: Our sample included 15 participants with IBD and 8 healthy controls. Participants with IBD were more psychiatrically complex, with more self-reported insomnia, anxiety and depression. Participants with IBD evidenced greater microarousals than healthy controls. In participants with IBD, microarousals were associated with lower insomnia and greater depression scores. Within IBD, participants with clinically significant insomnia evidenced trend towards lower sleep efficiency, while self-reported disease activity did not significantly impact findings. CONCLUSIONS: The methodology of past research may have impacted findings, including the reliance on single-night assessments and limited generalisability. Future research that uses robust, multinight assessments of sleep architecture in large, diverse samples is clearly warranted, as is research exploring the impact of cognitive and behavioural factors on sleep architecture and arousal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04132024.

Implementation of the recommendations for the psychological management of patients with spondyloarthritis and inflammatory bowel disease / Implementación de las recomendaciones para el manejo psicológico de pacientes con espondiloartritis y enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal

Objective: To assess and improve the level of implementation of the recommendations for the psychological management of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) and associated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: Qualitative study. We performed a narrative literature review to identify the recommendations for the psychological management of SpA and associated IBD and to explore their level of implementation. Based on the findings, we developed a national survey to assess: (1) current level of knowledge and implementation of the recommendations; (2) attitudes towards the recommendations; and (3) barriers and facilitators to their implementation. The results of the review and survey were discussed by a multidisciplinary group of 9 expert rheumatologists and gastroenterologists, who defined implementation strategies to increase the uptake of the recommendations. Results: The review included 4 articles, 2 of them included direct recommendations on the identification and management of psychological problems in patients with SpA and IBD. None assessed the level of implementation of the recommendations in routine clinical practice. Our survey showed a great lack of awareness and implementation of the recommendations, even though psychological issues are very relevant for health professionals. Lack of time, resources, and knowledge are considered the main barriers to adherence to the recommendations. We propose several implementation strategies related to educational activities, clinical practice, and others to increase the uptake of reported recommendations. Conclusions: Further research and efforts are required to achieve behaviour changes in clinical practice to improve the identification and management of psychological problems and needs in patients with SpA and IBD. (AU)

Objetivo: Analizar y mejorar la implementación de las recomendaciones sobre la evaluación y el manejo psicológico de pacientes con espondiloartritis (EspA) y enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) asociada. Métodos: Estudio cualitativo. Se realizó una revisión narrativa de la literatura para identificar las recomendaciones sobre el manejo psicológico de pacientes con EspA y EII asociada y explorar su grado de implementación. En base a ello se diseñó una encuesta para analizar el nivel de conocimiento de las recomendaciones, las barreras y los facilitadores a su implementación. Todos los resultados fueron discutidos por un grupo multidisciplinar de expertos reumatólogos y gastroenterólogos que definieron estrategias para incrementar el seguimiento de las recomendaciones. Resultados: La revisión incluyó 4 artículos, de los que 2 aportan recomendaciones directas sobre la evaluación y el manejo psicológico de pacientes con EspA y EII. Ninguno ha evaluado el grado de implementación de las recomendaciones en la práctica diaria. La encuesta mostró que el conocimiento de las mismas y la implementación de estas recomendaciones son prácticamente nulos a pesar de ser un tema muy relevante para los profesionales que manejan estos pacientes. La falta de tiempo, la escasez de recursos y la falta de reconocimiento se consideran las principales barreras para la correcta identificación y manejo de los aspectos psicológicos en pacientes con EspA y EII. Se proponen una serie de actividades formativas y relacionadas con la práctica clínica para mejorar esta situación. Conclusiones: Se precisa seguir trabajando en la implementación para conseguir cambios en la práctica diaria para mejorar la evaluación y el manejo psicológico de los pacientes con EspA y EII. (AU)

Abdominal pain in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in remission: A prospective study on contributing factors.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal pain is highly prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission, but the aetiology is incompletely understood. AIM: To investigate the association of clinical, lifestyle and psychosocial factors with abdominal pain in patients with IBD in remission. METHODS: We performed a prospective multicentre study enrolling consecutive patients with IBD. Data were collected between 1 January 2020 and 1 July 2021, using myIBDcoach, an established remote monitoring platform for IBD. Chronic abdominal pain in IBD in remission (IBDremissionPain+) was defined as abdominal pain score ≥3 (0-10 NRS) on ≥1/3 of all assessments, combined with faecal calprotectin <150 µg/g in 90 days around periodic assessments. Disease activity, lifestyle and psychosocial factors were assessed every 1-3 months during 18 months. Using linear mixed models, the association of these factors with abdominal pain over time was analysed. RESULTS: We included 559 patients, of whom 429 (76.7%) remained in biochemical remission. Of these, 198 (46.2%) fulfilled the criteria for chronic abdominal pain. IBDremissionPain+ patients were characterised by female sex, younger age, higher BMI, and shorter disease duration. They reported more often or higher levels of stress, fatigue, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and life events (all p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, sex, disease entity, fatigue, depressive symptoms and life events were associated with abdominal pain over time (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of patients with IBD in remission, abdominal pain was common and associated with psychosocial factors. A more holistic treatment approach for patients with IBD suffering from abdominal pain may improve quality of care and subjective wellbeing.

Efficacy of psychological therapies in people with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence for an influence of the gut-brain axis on the natural history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Psychological therapies could, therefore, have beneficial effects in individuals with IBD, but data are conflicting. We aimed to update our previous systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether the inclusion of more randomised controlled trials (RCTs) showed any beneficial effects and whether these effects varied by treatment modality. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Embase Classic, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from Jan 1, 2016, to April 30, 2023, for RCTs published in any language recruiting individuals aged 16 years or older with IBD that compared psychological therapy with a control intervention or treatment as usual. We pooled dichotomous data to obtain relative risks (RR) with 95% CIs of inducing remission in people with active disease or of relapse in people with quiescent disease at final follow-up. We pooled continuous data to estimate standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% CIs in disease activity indices, anxiety scores, depression scores, stress scores, and quality-of-life scores at completion of therapy and at final follow-up. We pooled all data using a random-effects model. Trials were analysed separately according to whether they recruited people with clinically active IBD or predominantly individuals whose disease was quiescent. We conducted subgroup analyses by mode of therapy and according to whether trials recruited selected groups of people with IBD. We used the Cochrane risk of bias tool to assess bias at the study level and assessed funnel plots using the Egger test. We assessed heterogeneity using the I2 statistic. FINDINGS: The updated literature search identified a total of 469 new records, 11 of which met eligibility criteria. 14 studies were included from our previous meta-analysis published in 2017. In total, 25 RCTs were eligible for this meta-analysis, all of which were at high risk of bias. Only four RCTs recruited patients with active IBD; there were insufficient data for meta-analysis of remission, disease activity indices, depression scores, and stress scores. In patients with active IBD, psychological therapy had no benefit compared with control for anxiety scores at completion of therapy (two RCTs; 79 people; SMD -1·04, 95% CI -2·46 to 0·39), but did have significant benefit for quality-of-life scores at completion of therapy (four RCTs; 309 people; 0·68, 0·09 to 1·26), although heterogeneity between studies was high (I2=82%). In individuals with quiescent IBD, RR of relapse of disease activity was not reduced with psychological therapy (ten RCTs; 861 people; RR 0·83, 95% CI 0·62 to 1·12), with moderate heterogeneity (I2=60%), and the funnel plot suggested evidence of publication bias or other small study effects (Egger test p=0·046). For people with quiescent IBD at completion of therapy, there was no difference in disease activity indices between psychological therapy and control (13 RCTs; 1015 people; SMD -0·01, 95% CI -0·13 to 0·12; I2=0%). Anxiety scores (13 RCTs; 1088 people; -0·23, -0·36 to -0·09; 18%), depression scores (15 RCTs; 1189 people; -0·26, -0·38 to -0·15; 2%), and stress scores (11 RCTs; 813 people; -0·22, -0·42 to -0·03; 47%) were significantly lower, and quality-of-life scores (16 RCTs; 1080 people; 0·31, 0·16 to 0·46; 30%) were significantly higher, with psychological therapy versus control at treatment completion. Statistically significant benefits persisted up to final follow-up for depression scores (12 RCTs; 856 people; -0·16, -0·30 to -0·03; 0%). Effects were strongest in RCTs of third-wave therapies and in RCTs that recruited people with impaired psychological health, fatigue, or reduced quality of life at baseline. INTERPRETATION: Psychological therapies have beneficial, short-term effects on anxiety, depression, stress, and quality-of-life scores, but not on disease activity. Further RCTs in selected groups are needed to establish the place for such therapies in IBD care. FUNDING: None.

Lower gastric sensitivity in quiescent inflammatory bowel disease than in irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Visceral hypersensitivity is considered a key symptom in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), both of which seriously affect health-related quality of life (HrQoL). Previous findings are mostly based on invasive procedures that may interfere with the assessment of visceral perception. The current study, therefore, investigates whether IBD and IBS are characterized by altered perception of 'natural' gastric distensions ('interoception'). METHODS: Twenty IBD patients in remission (13 Crohn's disease, 7 ulcerative colitis), 12 IBS patients, and 20/12 matched healthy control (HC) individuals, respectively, underwent the water load test, in which they could drink ad libitum until the subjective thresholds of satiation (stage 1) and fullness (stage 2) were reached. Gastric motility was assessed using electrogastrography. RESULTS: IBD patients drank significantly more water until satiation than IBS patients, whereas no differences between patients and HC groups were observed. Electrogastrographic patterns were comparable between groups, suggesting no pathologies in gastric motility in IBD or IBS. The amount of water consumed until satiation negatively correlated with HrQoL related to bowel symptoms in IBD patients, but was positively associated with emotional well-being in IBS patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings implicate relative gastric hypersensitivity in IBS, and relative hyposensitivity in IBD patients, which are both related to specific HrQoL aspects.

The burden of early life stress in chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early life stress (ELS) in a population with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and to estimate its burden on mental, physical, and digestive health. Ninety-three participants with IBD were asked to anonymously complete questionnaires (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Early Life Event Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Ways of Coping Checklist, Gastro-Intestinal Quality of Life Index questionnaire, and ad hoc questions about symptoms). The prevalence of patients with IBD who were exposed to at least one childhood abuse was 53%. Mental health and quality of life were significantly poorer in patients with IBD who were exposed to early abuse than in those who were not. Patients exposed to ELS had also more digestive perturbations and fatigue. These results suggest that early abuse should be considered a component of IBD care.

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in inflammatory bowel disease: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mental health has been identified as contributing to the pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Resultingly, psychotherapeutic interventions, such as Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI), have been increasingly investigated for improving IBD outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the current state of evidence of MBI's for individuals living with IBD. METHODS: We performed a systematic review searching Medline, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane and Scopus, to identify controlled clinical trials, investigating MBI's for various IBD biopsychosocial outcomes. Data was pooled using the inverse-variance random effects model, with restricted maximum likelihood estimation, providing the standardized mean difference (SMD) between control and experimental groups, at both short and long-term follow up. RESULTS: We identified 8 studies with 575 participants. Meta-analytic results found that MBI's were more efficacious than control groups in the short-term improvement of stress (SMD = -0.38, 95% CI [-0.65, -0.10], p = 0.007), mindfulness (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI [0.36, 0.83], p = 0.00001), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (SMD = -0.25, 95% CI [-0.49, -0.01], p = 0.04) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI [0.24, 0.66], p = 0.0001) (including all emotional, bowel, social and systemic subscales). This was maintained in the long-term for stress (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI [-0.88, -0.01], p < 0.05) and mindfulness (SMD = 0.52, 95% CI [0.14, 0.90], p = 0.008), but not for HRQoL, with no long-term data available for CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Given that MBI's appear to be effective in improving several IBD outcomes, they may be a useful adjuvant therapy in wholistic IBD care, with further trials warranted.

Trajectories of psychological stress in youth across the first year of inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: Youth newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) may be physically impacted by their disease and experience increased psychological stress. Stress is known to relate to greater reported IBD symptoms, but little is known about the longitudinal experience of stress and clinical symptoms of youth newly diagnosed with IBD. METHODS: Fifty-seven children (Mage = 14.26, range 8-17 years) diagnosed with IBD completed measures assessing psychological stress (PROMIS Psychological Stress Experiences), depressive symptoms (Children's Depression Inventory-2), and clinical disease symptoms (Self-Report Disease Activity) within 45 days of diagnosis and at 6-month and 1-year follow-ups. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to describe trajectory patterns of psychological stress over the first year of diagnosis and logistic regression identified predictors of group membership. RESULTS: Two distinct groups of psychological stress trajectories were identified: 1) low prevalence over the first year of diagnosis (51%) and 2) moderate and increasing prevalence (49%). Membership in the moderate and increasing psychological stress group was associated with female sex and greater IBD symptoms at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest roughly half of youth newly diagnosed with IBD would likely benefit from multidisciplinary assessment and intervention to promote adaptive stress management, given moderate and increasing stress levels. Future research is needed to evaluate specific intervention techniques most helpful to youth with IBD.