Cognitive-behavioral treatment for youth with IBD and co-morbid anxiety disorders

Anxiety Symptoms and Disease Severity in Children and Adolescents With Crohn Disease

“…Our findings are consistent with previous reports that children and adolescents diagnosed as having CD may have an increased vulnerability for developing anxiety (7,30); however, prevalence rates still need to be empirically established. Accordingly, these issues are particularly important for youth managing CD because gastrointestinal symptoms associated with psychological distress, or conditioned functional pain, may be misinterpreted as disease symptoms (9,16,(34)(35)(36). These data suggest that for some, anxiety is likely present even in the absence of disease activity.…”

“…or conditioned functional pain, may be misinterpreted as disease symptoms (9,16,(34)(35)(36). The misperception of disease activity may lead to gastroenterologists attributing these symptoms to disease activity and can make disease management difficult for the patient, family, and physician.…”

“…Furthermore, anxiety can cause physical discomfort not related to inflammation by increasing visceral hypersensitivity or pain perception (33). Accordingly, these issues are particularly important for youth managing CD because gastrointestinal symptoms associated with psychological distress, or conditioned functional pain, may be misinterpreted as disease symptoms (9,16,34–36). The misperception of disease activity may lead to gastroenterologists attributing these symptoms to disease activity and can make disease management difficult for the patient, family, and physician.…”

“…Children and adolescents diagnosed as having Crohn disease (CD), a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), also seem to have increased vulnerability for anxiety symptoms (7)(8)(9). CD is characterized by chronic remitting and relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract; symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and poor nutritional absorption.…”