Jessica Halloran1, Brett McDermott2, Tatjana Ewais1,3,4, Jakob Begun5,6,7, Shamshad Karatela8, Helen d'Emden9, Christian Corias10, Simon Denny1. 1. Mater Young Adult Health Centre, Mater Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 2. College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. 3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 4. School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 5. Department of Gastroenterology, Mater Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 6. Department of Chronic Diseases, Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 7. School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 8. Faculty of Medicine, Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 9. Mater Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 10. Clinical Trials Unit, Mater Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examined the psychosocial burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in young people aged 15-25 years attending a tertiary specialist health centre for adolescents and young adults in Brisbane. AIMS: To describe the impact of IBD on psychosocial well-being in young people and to compare well-being in the IBD cohort to well-being among young people with other chronic conditions, with a view to identifying characteristics and challenges unique to those with IBD. METHODS: Young people with IBD provided demographic information and psychosocial data through a cross-sectional self-report survey. Psychosocial data included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, World Health Organisation Well-being Index, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Short Quality of Life Questionnaire for IBD, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor Davidson Resilience Scale 2 and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. RESULTS: Surveys were collected from 51 young people with IBD and compared with surveys from 210 young people with juvenile rheumatic disease (n = 31), phenylketonuria (n = 21), cystic fibrosis (n = 33), renal transplants (n = 14) and craniomaxillofacial conditions (n = 111). On the psychosocial domains, 41% of young people with IBD had poor well-being and 37% were at risk of depression. When assessed against the comparison group, young people with IBD reported higher depressive symptoms (P = 0.04), worse illness perceptions (P < 0.01) and lower internal locus of control (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychosocial comorbidities within integrated pathways of care is crucial in adolescents and young adults with IBD and likely to improve the course of IBD and their overall health and well-being. Interventions aimed at enhancing self-efficacy and increasing public awareness are also likely to be helpful.
BACKGROUND: This study examined the psychosocial burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in young people aged 15-25 years attending a tertiary specialist health centre for adolescents and young adults in Brisbane. AIMS: To describe the impact of IBD on psychosocial well-being in young people and to compare well-being in the IBD cohort to well-being among young people with other chronic conditions, with a view to identifying characteristics and challenges unique to those with IBD. METHODS: Young people with IBD provided demographic information and psychosocial data through a cross-sectional self-report survey. Psychosocial data included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, World Health Organisation Well-being Index, Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Short Quality of Life Questionnaire for IBD, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor Davidson Resilience Scale 2 and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. RESULTS: Surveys were collected from 51 young people with IBD and compared with surveys from 210 young people with juvenile rheumatic disease (n = 31), phenylketonuria (n = 21), cystic fibrosis (n = 33), renal transplants (n = 14) and craniomaxillofacial conditions (n = 111). On the psychosocial domains, 41% of young people with IBD had poor well-being and 37% were at risk of depression. When assessed against the comparison group, young people with IBD reported higher depressive symptoms (P = 0.04), worse illness perceptions (P < 0.01) and lower internal locus of control (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychosocial comorbidities within integrated pathways of care is crucial in adolescents and young adults with IBD and likely to improve the course of IBD and their overall health and well-being. Interventions aimed at enhancing self-efficacy and increasing public awareness are also likely to be helpful.