P737 Poor body image is associated with significant depression, anxiety and self-harm in people with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Abstract Background Body image dissatisfaction is common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is associated with worse quality of life in this population. In other populations body image dissatisfaction has been associated with psychological distress. We aimed to investigate the relationship between body image and depression, anxiety, and self-harm in an IBD population. Methods IBD patients at a tertiary IBD referral centre were sent a pre-clinic survey to be undertaken once a year. This survey included a validated measure of body image dissatisfaction – the body image scale (BIS) – with a BIS >= 10 indicating Body Image Dissatisfaction. Demographic data and measures of depression (Patient health questionnaire 9 (PHQ9), and anxiety (Generalised anxiety disorder-7 (GAD7)) were also obtained. Results There was 146 responses to the questionnaire, majority female (64%), median age 42 years interquartile range (29-58), 57% Crohn’s disease. A BIS over >= 10 was seen in 35.3%, with mean (SD) BIS score 8.5 (7.5). Consistent with previous literature BIS score was higher in females (11.3 (1.2) v 3.4 (3.5), p<0.001). BIS score was higher in obesity (11.0 v 7.2, p=0.049), however correlation with weight was poor (-0.044), and overall body weight was not higher in BIS>=10 (77.5 (2.8) v 82.1 (4.8) p=0.37), and similarly no difference seen in BMI (30.0 (1.5) v 28.3 (1.2) p=0.41). BIS score and depression score (PHQ9) correlation was strong (ro=0.56), and similarly for anxiety severity score (ro=0.57). More frequent self-harm was associated with worse body image dissatisfaction (Figure 1 oneway ANOVA). Self-harm or suicidal ideation more than half the days was associated with a BIS score over 10 (p=0.012 Chi2, Odds ratio 4.16 for self-harm given BIS over 10). Conclusion Body image dissatisfaction is associated with self-harm, depression and anxiety, In addition to its known relationship with lower quality of life. Consideration should be given to developing body image targeting interventions in IBD populations and future research should consider interventional trials in this area.