The relationship between activity index of ulcerative colitis and crohn disease with anxiety and depression

Inflammatory bowel disease is an idiopathic and chronic bowel inflammation that include Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and Crohn Disease (CD) which proceed with remissions and relapses. Some studies showed that, chronic progressive nature of the disease, concern about acute activation of the disease, and the idea of to be operated in the following years can provide anxiety and moody thoughts about the future of the patients. In this study we aimed to evaluate anxiety and depression scores in IBD patients and contribute to scientific literature by searching the effects of the differences between UC and CD on anxiety and depression. 90 patients (50 UC and 40 CD) which referred to the department of Gastroenterology of Internal Medicine of KTU Faculty of Medicine are taken in to our study. Duration of disease, additional diseases, used drugs, living locations, birthdays, marital statuses, former bowel surgeries, family stories, jobs and extra intestinal involvement of the diseases are questioned in all patients. The activity index is measured according to "Truelowe Witts Scale" in UC patients and "Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI)" in CD patients. "Beck Anxiety Scale" and "Beck Depression Scale" is applied to all patients. Anxiety was significantly higher in IBD cases with additional disesases and in CD cases that are 45 years old and more older, also in CD cases without infliximab treatment. There was statistically significant correlation between disease activity and depression in patients with CD. According to the results of our study, there may be anxiety and depression in patients at the active period of the disease. Therefore, in IBD clinics, after the diagnosis of the diseases routine application of anxiety and depression scales is suitable and the patients who have higher points from the scales must be consulted to the psychiatrists. In recent studies it is shown that the development of dysbiosis in the gut microbiata causes anxiety and depression in IBD patients. In our study, it is considered that disbiosis related to IBD can be the cause of higher rates of anxiety and depression in cases which have higher activity index. Our study is a prospective study which includes small number of patients. Prospective studies with more number of patients are required to expose definite results that can affect current clinical practices.