Gastropsychology News

Results from a new survey published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases highlight the need for improved communication between physicians and patients regarding IBD treatment goals and expectations.

In a Healio exclusive video, Tina Aswani Omprakash, a presenter at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress, shares her experience with cultural competency as it relates to mental health and surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.

Therapeutic “de-escalation” relies on analysis of disease-related factors and careful monitoring of pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease, according to a presentation at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress.

It is important for health care providers to ask patients with inflammatory bowel disease about sexual dysfunction and other reproductive concerns, according to a presentation at the Crohn’s and Colitis Congress.

Eating disorder symptoms motivated by concerns about body shape/weight can be present in or develop in gastroenterology patients, often contributing to maintenance of gastrointestinal symptoms. Importantly, eating disorder symptoms lie along a spectrum—there are many individuals who do not meet full-threshold criteria for a “classic” eating disorder— anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder — yet have symptoms that could interact with their gastrointestinal presentation. To facilitate evaluation and treatment of patients with eating disorder symptoms, it can be helpful to understand that symptoms generally fall into two categories: thoughts and behaviors.

There is increasing recognition in the gastroenterology field that a number of patients can have eating disorder symptoms that interact with their presenting gastrointestinal complaints. Historically, many practitioners have been aware to screen for “traditional” eating disorders, primarily bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. However, a relatively new eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), is less known and is likely going untreated in many practice settings.

What is a GI psychologist? Although those of us who identify as GI psychologists often find ourselves explaining what that means to our colleagues, it is exactly what it sounds like: we are psychologists specializing in working with people who have GI conditions. We alternate between academic descriptors “psychogastroenterology” and “gastropsych,” representing the natural marriage of the worlds of psychology and gastroenterology.

In an ongoing effort to keep up with the rapidly expanding field of psychogastroenterology and the latest updates on research, science and clinical practice advocacy, Healio Gastroenterology and Liver Disease proudly presents “When in Rome: Gastro Psych Blog.” This new resource aims to give practicing physicians more insight into the scientific and clinical intersection of gastroenterology and psychology.