[Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Association with Disease Activity and its Impact on Quality of Life].

Abstract

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel diseases are chronic conditions whose digestive and extradigestive symptoms affect patients' quality of life. Multiple observational studies have also reported a significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, in inflammatory bowel disease patients compared to the general population.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of symptoms suggestive of anxiety and/or depression in inflammatory bowel disease patients, as well as their association with disease activity and quality of life.

Materials and methods: Patients over 18 years of age who attended the inflammatory bowel disease clinics of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Service of the Güemes Hospital and the Centro Integral de Gastroenterología, in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, from May 2023 to April 2025 were evaluated. The HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depresión Scale) and CCVEII-9 (Shortened quality of life questionnaire in inflammatory bowel disease) questionnaires were administered, alongside the collection of clinical data and fecal calprotectin as a marker of inflammatory activity.

Results: Ninety-nine patients with inflammatory bowel disease aged 18 years or older were included. Symptoms suggestive of anxiety were observed in 62.6% and depression in 19% of patients. No significant associations were found between psychiatric symptoms and calprotectin levels. However, the presence of anxiety or depression was associated with lower quality of life. Moderate negative correlations were observed for anxiety and strong negative correlations for depression between the scores of the two questionnaires.

Conclusion: More than half of inflammatory bowel disease patients present symptoms of anxiety and depression, significantly affecting their quality of life, although no relationship with inflammatory activity was observed. These findings emphasize the importance of screening and specifically treating psychiatric disorders in this population to improve overall wellbeing.