Practice Survey: Depression Screening in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Abstract

Little is known about depression screening practices in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care. This study summarizes depression screening within IBD centers in the ImproveCareNow Collaborative Network. Pediatric IBD providers across 79 IBD centers completed an online survey on current practices surrounding depression screening. Half of centers report doing annual depression screening, largely for patients 12-14 years. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is most often used. For positive depression screens, most centers refer for evidence-based psychotherapy and/or a psychosocial provider meets with the patient during that visit. Suicidal ideation is addressed by calling a psychosocial provider to clinic or sending a patient to the emergency department. Barriers to routine screening include lack of personnel/resources, billing, and lack of clinic time. Pediatric IBD centers conducting depression screening provide targeted intervention based on screening and include psychosocial providers in the process. Greater understanding of screening efforts can inform future clinical efforts.