Abstract
Background: Patients with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and mental illnesses experience worse IBD outcomes.
Aim: To describe the incidence of mental illnesses, including deliberate self-harm, in IBD patients.
Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study using IQVIA medical research data of a primary care database covering the whole UK, between January 1995 and January 2021. IBD patients of all ages were matched 4:1 by demographics and primary care practice to unexposed controls. Following exclusion of patients with mental ill health at study entry, adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of developing depression, anxiety, deliberate self-harm, severe mental illness and insomnia were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model.
Results: We included 48,799 incident IBD patients: 28,352 with ulcerative colitis and 20,447 with Crohn's disease. Incidence rate ratios of mental illness were higher in IBD patients than controls (all p < 0.001): deliberate self-harm 1.31 (95% CI 1.16–1.47), anxiety 1.17 (1.11–1.24), depression 1.36 (1.31–1.42) and insomnia 1.62 (1.54–1.69). Patients with Crohn's disease were more likely to develop deliberate self-harm HR 1.51 (95% CI 1.28–1.78), anxiety 1.38 (1.16–1.65), depression 1.36 (1.26–1.47) and insomnia 1.74 (1.62–1.86). Patients with IBD are at increased risk of deliberate self-harm (HR 1.20 [1.07–1.35]). The incidence rate ratios of mental illnesses were particularly high during the first year following IBD diagnosis: anxiety 1.28 (1.13–1.46), depression 1.62 (1.48–1.77) and insomnia 1.99 (1.78–2.21).
Conclusion: Deliberate self-harm, depression, anxiety and insomnia were more frequent among patients with IBD. IBD is independently associated with an increased risk of deliberate self-harm.
Aim: To describe the incidence of mental illnesses, including deliberate self-harm, in IBD patients.
Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study using IQVIA medical research data of a primary care database covering the whole UK, between January 1995 and January 2021. IBD patients of all ages were matched 4:1 by demographics and primary care practice to unexposed controls. Following exclusion of patients with mental ill health at study entry, adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of developing depression, anxiety, deliberate self-harm, severe mental illness and insomnia were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model.
Results: We included 48,799 incident IBD patients: 28,352 with ulcerative colitis and 20,447 with Crohn's disease. Incidence rate ratios of mental illness were higher in IBD patients than controls (all p < 0.001): deliberate self-harm 1.31 (95% CI 1.16–1.47), anxiety 1.17 (1.11–1.24), depression 1.36 (1.31–1.42) and insomnia 1.62 (1.54–1.69). Patients with Crohn's disease were more likely to develop deliberate self-harm HR 1.51 (95% CI 1.28–1.78), anxiety 1.38 (1.16–1.65), depression 1.36 (1.26–1.47) and insomnia 1.74 (1.62–1.86). Patients with IBD are at increased risk of deliberate self-harm (HR 1.20 [1.07–1.35]). The incidence rate ratios of mental illnesses were particularly high during the first year following IBD diagnosis: anxiety 1.28 (1.13–1.46), depression 1.62 (1.48–1.77) and insomnia 1.99 (1.78–2.21).
Conclusion: Deliberate self-harm, depression, anxiety and insomnia were more frequent among patients with IBD. IBD is independently associated with an increased risk of deliberate self-harm.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 814-822 |
| Journal | Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 30 Jun 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 30 Jun 2022 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hepatology
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology (medical)