State of the Art: Psychotherapeutic lnterventions Targeting the Psychological Factors lnvolved in IBD

Abstract: The present aficle aims to teview the lilerature on the relationship between psychology and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In particular, the first section is dedicated to expkrre the mle ofpsychological factors in the etiopathology ofthe disease, its development and the eflicacy offeatments, while the secon.d analyzes existing literature on the role oipsychotogical interventions ín the care oflBD pàtients. Although the role ofpsychological factors in IBD appears controversial, literature seems to distinguish between.antecedents ofthe disease (stress and lifestyle behaviot)' potential mediators of disease cowse (family filnctioning, aúachment sryle, coping strategies, and illness perception)' outcomes of IBD and concurrent factors (anxiety, depression and quality oflife). Four types ofpqychological ini,erventions are described: Stress management, fsy"ttoOynàm1", Cognitive behavioral and llypnosis based. Data on tlle role and ellicacy of psychological i.rt..rvÀtioos in IBD patients show littte ev'idence both on reduction of the disease activity and benefi8 on psychological vzriables. psychologícal interventions seem to be beneficial in the short term especially for adolescents' ìfr" itnpo.tun"" of considering thJ connections between psychology and IBD from a broader perspective reflecling the oornplexity ofthe pbenomenon at multiple levels is discussed'