Psychological factors affecting pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The scant existing research limits conclusions about which children are most at risk for experiencing problems. Future research should investigate a range of psychosocial outcomes and risk factors for developing problems. Prevention and intervention strategies aimed at improving psychosocial functioning in children with inflammatory bowel disease should be developed and evaluated.

Stability of Emotional and Behavioral Functioning in Youth with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…Finally, the length of time from Time 1 to Time 2 was relatively short, potentially limiting the ability to detect changes in psychosocial and behavioral functioning that may occur across longer time periods. Although results from the current study are consistent with past research demonstrating that youth with IBD report levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties within the average range, past research has demonstrated that youth with IBD are at risk for higher levels of depressive disorders and poorer quality of life compared to healthy peers (Greenley et al, 2010; Mackner & Crandall, 2007). Consequently, future studies are needed to examine stability of psychosocial and behavioral functioning in youth with IBD across longer time periods of the disease course, relative to changing disease activity, and using different assessment methods to measure both symptoms and diagnoses.…”

“…Results build upon past cross-sectional research demonstrating that youth with IBD may be at risk for psychosocial difficulties (Greenley et al, 2010; Mackner & Crandall, 2007) by providing evidence as to the stability of psychosocial functioning across the disease course. Generally, results suggest overall functioning within normal ranges, with high levels of stability in emotional and behavioral functioning for youth both newly-diagnosed and previously-diagnosed with IBD.…”

“…Previously, however, the same authors reported that adolescents with IBD who were at least one-year post diagnosis self-reported similar levels of emotional and behavioral functioning compared to healthy peers (Mackner & Crandall, 2005). In a subsequent review of the literature, the authors indicated that across multiple studies, youth with IBD have demonstrated more symptoms of emotional difficulties and/or more internalizing symptoms such as anxiety or depression when compared to healthy adolescents (Mackner & Crandall, 2007). Although levels of symptoms are higher for youth with IBD than healthy controls, studies that have reported T-scores for determining clinical significance have consistently been in the average range (Mackner & Crandall, 2007).…”

“…In a subsequent review of the literature, the authors indicated that across multiple studies, youth with IBD have demonstrated more symptoms of emotional difficulties and/or more internalizing symptoms such as anxiety or depression when compared to healthy adolescents (Mackner & Crandall, 2007). Although levels of symptoms are higher for youth with IBD than healthy controls, studies that have reported T-scores for determining clinical significance have consistently been in the average range (Mackner & Crandall, 2007). Results suggest that although youth with IBD may not experience clinically significant levels of symptoms, they may still experience greater levels of emotional difficulties compared to peers.…”

“…In addition, with the exception of the study above (Mackner & Crandall, 2005), we have limited understanding of how psychosocial difficulties may change across the disease course from the time of diagnosis to several years after having lived with the disease. Past research has reported equivocal findings on the relationship between emotional and behavioral functioning and disease activity, suggesting that the mere presence or absence of disease symptoms is not enough to predict psychosocial outcomes (Mackner & Crandall, 2007). Despite limited research on the stability of psychosocial functioning in youth with IBD, health-related quality of life in solid organ transplant recipients has been shown to be a largely stable construct over an 18-month period (Devine, Reed-Knight, Simons, Mee, & Blount, 2010).…”