Prevalence of Depression in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease from the Gastroenterologist Service at National Medical Center 20 de Noviembre

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The patients with Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), often experience important levels of psychological distress. The evidence suggests that psychiatric disorders like the depression are risk factors for an early clinic recurrence and a more severe disease such as, a decrease in the adherence to the treatment and an increase in the disability. The objective was to determine the prevalence of depression in patients with IBD from the gastroenterologist service at National Medical Center 20 de Noviembre. METHODS: Descriptive, observational and transversal study. Were included patients>18 years old with the diagnosis of IBD by clinical, endoscopic and histopathological criteria that belong to the IBD clinic of The National Medical Center 20 de Noviembre. It was applied a validated survey of depression: Montgomery-Asberg and the clinical activity modified Truelove-Witts and the Harvey Bradshaw index. It was determined mean and standard deviation or median and ranks according to the distribution of the variables. For qualitative variables were calculated percentages. For the correlation between the severity of the IBD and the degree of depression it was determined a Spearman's correlation, P<0.05 was consider statistically significant. RESULTS: Were included 30 patients with IBD, the average age: 48.97 + 15.17 years, 20 patients with the diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) (66.7%) and 10 of Crohn Disease (CD) (33.3%). Treatment: adalimumab 26.7%, infliximab 33.3%, certolizumab 16.7%, aminosalicylates 16.7% and aminosalicylates plus immunomodulatory drugs: 6.7%. It was determined a prevalence of depression of 60%. (33.3% minor depression, 20% moderate depression and 6.7% severe depression). Regarding the index of clinical activity and the degree of depression in patients with UC: patients with inactive disease, 44.4% have depression, mild activity: 80%, moderate activity: 100%. Regarding the activity of the CD and the severity of depression: remission: 28.6% with depression; mild, moderate and severe activity: 100% of patients have depression. Spearman correlation between the severity of the IBD and the degree of depression: UC: r=0.137, P=0.565 and CD: r= 0.588, P=.074. CONCLUSION(S): The prevalence of depression determined in this study, was important. This means that the depression is an important factor to consider during the clinical management of patients with IBD. Is important to perform a multicentric study with the objective of increase the number of patients, thus it would be possible to calculate a national prevalence and to determine the importance of the depression in this important population.