Coping Strategies and Psychological Outcomes of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the First 6 Months after Diagnosis

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with reduced physical and mental well-being. The first 6 months after diagnosis is an important time in a patient's life with IBD. On top of the physical symptoms, psychological characteristics, such as coping strategies and personality, may contribute to impaired or improved health-related quality of life (HRQOL), anxiety, and depression. This study aimed to measure the stability of coping strategies and personality over the first 6 months after diagnosis and identify the associations of coping strategies and personality traits with the level of HRQOL and degree of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to measure HRQOL, anxiety, depression, IBD symptoms, coping, and personality at baseline and 6 months. Methods: Questionnaires about HRQOL, anxiety, depression, IBD symptoms, coping, personality, and demographic information were administered to patients at baseline and 6 months after diagnosis. Results: Personality characteristics were stable over the first 6 months but coping strategies were not. Maladaptive coping strategies were associated with worse outcomes but adaptive coping strategies were not associated with better outcomes. All measures of HRQOL improved. Neuroticism was associated with worse psychological anxiety, depression, and HRQOL outcomes. Conclusions: This is the first study to psychologically test patients with IBD during the first 6 months after diagnosis. Generally, the HRQOL of patients with IBD improves over this time. Maladaptive coping is associated with worse psychological anxiety, depression, and HRQOL physical outcomes; although until an interventional study is performed, reverse causation cannot be ruled out.