Cognitive behavioral therapy improves psychosocial functioning in IBD
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Compared with standard of care, group cognitive behavioral therapy decreased psychological distress and improved overall health among patients with inflammatory bowel disease, according to findings presented at UEG Week Virtual.
“IBD patients commonly report increased psychological distress, sexual dysfunction and poor quality of life,” Christos Sotiropoulos, of the University of Patras division of gastroenterology and department of internal medicine, said during a presentation. “Although standard psychiatric evaluation is considered a necessary part of patients’ holistic care, there is a limited number of randomized trials focusing on the effect of psychotherapy on patients’ psychosocial functioning and on clinical laboratory indices of disease severity.”
In a prospective, randomized control study, researchers investigated the effect of psychotherapy among 50 patients (49.1% men, mean age, 42.3 years) with Crohn’s disease (71.9%) or ulcerative colitis (28.1%) who underwent group cognitive behavioral therapy or standard care for 6 months. Assessments administered at baseline and study completion included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, SF-36 and the International Index of Erectile Functioning/Female Sexual Functioning Index. They additionally measured C-reactive protein levels and calculated the Harvey-Bradshaw Index for patients with CD or the Truelove-Witts Index for patients with UC.
According to study results, patients who received group therapy demonstrated a decrease in symptoms of anxiety (P = .007) and depression (P = .016) compared with patients who received standard of care. They additionally demonstrated improved general health (P = .001), vitality (P = .018), social functioning (P = .003) and mental health (P = .003), as well as reduced physical pain (P = .014) and C-reactive protein levels (P = .042). Researchers noted no differences between groups for Harvey-Bradshaw Index (P = .52), Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (P = .901) or Simple Colitis Activity Index (P = .965).
“Group cognitive behavior therapy significantly contributed to psychological distress alleviation, quality of life improvement and inflammation attenuation in IBD patients. The present brief IBD-adjusted psychotherapeutic protocol appeared promising and should be integrated in patient-centered care,” Sotiropoulos said. “Further research is needed to detect potential efficacy determinants in an attempt to improve its cost-effectiveness and clinical usefulness.”
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Sotiropoulos C, et al. Abstract OP025. Presented at: UEG Week; Oct. 3-5, 2021 (virtual meeting).
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