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. 2019 Jun;26(2):183-193.
doi: 10.1007/s10880-018-9576-5.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient Experiences with Psychotherapy in the Community

Meredith R Craven  1 , Sarah Quinton  2 , Tiffany H Taft  2
Affiliations

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patient Experiences with Psychotherapy in the Community

Meredith R Craven et al. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize patient expectations for integrating mental health into IBD treatment, describe experiences with psychotherapy, and evaluate therapy access and quality. Adults with IBD were recruited online and via a gastroenterology practice. Participants, 162 adults with IBD, completed online questionnaires. The sample was primarily middle-aged, White, and female. Sixty percent had Crohn's Disease. Disease severity was mild to moderate; 38% reported utilizing therapy for IBD-specific issues. The greatest endorsed barrier to psychotherapy was its cost. Psychotherapy was perceived as leading to modest gains in quality of life, emotional well-being, and stress reduction. Participants reported a disparity between their desire for mental health discussions and their actual interactions with providers. The majority of participants (81%) stated there are insufficient knowledgeable therapists. A significant number of patients with IBD endorsed the desire for mental health integration into care. Disparities exist in reported provider-patient communication on these topics. There appears to be a dearth of IBD-knowledgeable therapists in the community.

Keywords: Community; Crohn’s disease; Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); Integrated care; Mental health; Psychosocial care; Psychotherapy; Ulcerative colitis.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Reported IBD patients’ needs vs. provider discussion regarding mental health considerations
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Ratings of psychotherapy effectiveness by diagnosis
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Ratings of therapist knowledge of IBD domains by diagnosis
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Reported barriers to accessing psychotherapy for IBD
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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