title: Prevalence of mental health disorders in inflammatory bowel disease: an Australian outpatient cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to characterize prevalence of anxiety and depressive conditions and uptake of mental health services in an Australian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) outpatient setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one IBD patients (39 males, mean age 35 years) attending a tertiary hospital IBD outpatient clinic participated in this study. Disease severity was evaluated according to the Manitoba Index. Diagnosis of an anxiety or depressive condition was based upon the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale subscale scores >8 and meeting Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview criteria, 16 (19.8%) participants had at least one anxiety condition, while nine (11.1%) had a depressive disorder present. Active IBD status was associated with higher prevalence rates across all anxiety and depressive conditions. Generalized anxiety was the most common (12 participants, 14.8%) anxiety condition, and major depressive disorder (recurrent) was the most common depressive condition reported (five participants, 6.2%). Seventeen participants (21%) reported currently seeking help for mental health issues while 12.4% were identified has having at least one psychological condition but not seeking treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that rates of anxiety and depression are high in this cohort, and that IBD-focused psychological services should be a key component of any holistic IBD service, especially for those identified as having active IBD.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Davina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tribbick
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salzberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ftanou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Medicine and Genetics, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Finlay
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Macrae
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Colorectal Medicine and Genetics, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kamm
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Glen W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Bates
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Colorectal Medicine and Genetics, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia ; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Knowles
keywords: disease activity; inflammatory bowel disease; psychological conditions