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The Mind-Body IBD Study: Understanding the Mind-body Connection in IBD

Recruiting
Conditions
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Ulcerative Colitis
Crohn Disease
Crohn Colitis
Interventions
Other: Data collection
Registration Number
NCT06116331
Lead Sponsor
King's College London
Brief Summary

An aspect of IBD care that is often overlooked is mental health treatment. Common mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression are very common in IBD, with a meta-analysis estimating prevalence as high as 25.2% for depression and 32.1% for anxiety. The prevalence of anxiety and depression increases when individuals with active disease are considered, with rates as high as 57.6% for anxiety and 38.9% for depression. Comorbid depression and anxiety in IBD is associated with greater symptom severity, even when statistically controlling for disease activity; more frequent and expensive emergency department visits and inpatient stays, higher costs relating to IBD-related surgery, medication and personal expenditure; noncompliance with medical treatment and finally, increased likelihood of experiencing flares.

However, very few studies attempt to unpick the precise mechanism of these bidirectional relationships.

Indeed, depression and anxiety may have direct effects on physical health through inflammatory or psychoneuroimmunological pathways. Very few studies investigate the longitudinal brain-gut relationship with regards to objective measures of inflammation. Additionally, the indirect effects of mental health are often overlooked. Depression and anxiety are routinely associated with health behaviours, such as diet, physical activity, sleep, and tobacco/alcohol use.These health behaviours are important factors, given their impact on physical health outcomes. Therefore, a thorough investigation is required to ascertain the precise mechanisms that underpin the bidirectional relationship between depression/anxiety and inflammation/physical health, as this will enable practitioners and researchers to establish non-invasive, behavioural treatment targets for this patient group.

AIM The broad aim of this project is to explore whether anxiety/depression has a direct or indirect (via health behaviours) on i) inflammation levels ii) clinical activity and iii) healthcare usage at follow-up, in a population of IBD patients. A secondary aim of the project will be to explore whether changes in disease activity, as measured by self-report measures and faecal calprotectin, explains changes in anxiety and depression symptoms at follow up.

Detailed Description

Participants will be asked to answer online questionnaires at 3 time points, 6 months apart. They will also be asked to do an at-home stool sample test at the first two time points.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
170
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Self-reported diagnosis of IBD (pseudo-confirmed with participant's self-reported IBD medication or medication history)
  2. Willing and able to give informed consent and participate in the study
  3. Aged 18 and over
  4. Sufficient command of written and spoken English to understand study procedures and documents, and complete self-report questionnaires
  5. UK resident (GP registered)
  6. Email address, telephone number and postal address to enable all study procedures
  7. Experience at least one flare (requiring medical escalation or medication change) within the last two years
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Under 18 years
  2. Lives outside of the UK
  3. Insufficient command of English to understand study documents and procedures
  4. Not able to give informed consent Regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the last two weeks.
  5. People with a cancer diagnosis

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ParticipantsData collectionParticipants will complete 3 online questionnaires at 6 month intervals. At the first two time points they will also be asked to submit 2 at home stool sample tests, to assess fecal calprotectin.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fecal CalprotectinMonth 0, Month 6

Measure of intestinal inflammation, higher levels indicate greater inflammation.

Psychological distress: Patient Health Questionnaire Anxiety and Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS)Month 0, Month 6, Month 12

The PHQ-ADS is a composite measure of the Generalised Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Min score = 0, Max score = 48, with higher scores indicating higher levels of distress.

Depression: Patient Health Questionnaire - (PHQ-9)Month 0, Month 6, Month 12

Depression. Min score = 0, Max score = 27, with higher scores indicating greater depression.

Anxiety: Generalised Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7)Month 0, Month 6, Month 12

Anxiety. Min score = 0, Max score = 21, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety

Health service useMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

4 service use items (GP, psychologist, emergency care, secondary care service) from the client service receipt inventory (CSRI) will be used. Frequency and duration of particular services will be recorded, from which a total time will be calculated. There is no maximum value. Higher scores indicate more health service time used.

IBD activityMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

For Crohn's Disease patients: The Patient-Reported Outcomes for the Assessment of Crohn's Disease Activity (PRO-CD). The scale contains two sub-scales: 1) bowel signs and symptoms, 2) functional symptoms. Each scale is scored separately. There is no total score for the PRO-CD. The first sub-scale starts at 0 and has no maximum value, with greater scores indicating greater bowel signs/symptoms. The second subscale ranges from 0-21, with higher scores indicating greater functional symptoms.

For Ulcerative Colitis / unclassified patients: The Patient-Reported Outcomes for Assessment of Ulcerative Colitis (PRO-UC). The scale has 9-items and includes two scales: 1) Bowel signs/symptoms and 2) functional symptoms. The first sub-scale starts at 0 and has no maximum value, with greater scores indicating greater bowel signs/symptoms. The second subscale ranges from 0-21, with higher scores indicating greater functional symptoms.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body Mass IndexMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

Weight (in kg) and Height (in m) will be combined to calculate BMI (weight in kg / (height in m)\^2

Smoking statusMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

Current smoking status, including amount of cigarettes consumed per day.

Alcohol ConsumptionMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

Number of units drunk in the past week.

Physical activity: International Physical Activity QuestionnaireMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

Physical activity. There are three subscales (vigorous activity, moderate activity and lower-level activity). Scores will be in minutes. Higher scores will indicate more physical activity performed.

IBD medicationMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

Current medication and dose.

IBD flaresMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

Frequency and severity (4-point scale) of IBD flares (in last 6 months)

Sleep - the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)Month 0, Month 6, Month 12

Sleep quality in the last month. Min=0, max=21, with higher scores indicating worse sleep quality.

IBD quality of life - short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (sIBDQ)Month 0, Month 6, Month 12

The sIBDQ is a ten-item questionnaire that covers four domains: bowel symptoms, systemic symptoms, emotional health, and social functions. Min=10, max=70, with a lower score indicating lower quality of life.

Medication Adherence - Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS)Month 0, Month 6, Month 12

5-item scale on a 5-point scale.Mix=0, Max=20, with higher scores indicating better adherence.

Diet - Healthy Eating AssessmentMonth 0, Month 6, Month 12

8-item simplified food frequency questionnaire designed for use in primary care settings. The tool will be adapted so that each item is score 1-5. Mix=8, max=40, with higher scores indicating better diet quality.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

King's College London

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

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