Psychological distress, somatization, and defense mechanisms associated with quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease patients.
BACKGROUND
Clinical parameters predict health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but some patients have impaired HRQOL despite being in clinical remission.


OBJECTIVE
To identify personality and psychological distress variables associated with HRQOL in IBD.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study of 185 IBD patients, the General Health Questionnaire, the Hopkins' Symptoms Distress Checklist, the Defense Style Questionnaire and the Life Style Index were administered. The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire was used for the assessment of HRQOL.


RESULTS
Psychological distress was associated with impaired HRQOL in a dose-response fashion. Somatization mediated the relationships of anxiety and depression with HRQOL. Few years of education, more extensive use of the reaction-formation defense mechanism and higher rates of somatization were the variables most closely and independently associated with impaired HRQOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Somatization and reaction-formation are independent correlates of disease-specific HRQOL in IBD patients, and this could be relevant to psychological interventions.
Hyphantis
Thomas N
TN
Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece. tyfantis@cc.uoi.gr
Tomenson
Barbara
B
Bai
Marina
M
Tsianos
Epameinondas
E
Mavreas
Venetsanos
V
Creed
Francis
F
D001007:Anxiety; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011788:Quality of Life; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires