Reduction of depressive symptoms among patients with inflammatory bowel disease treated with biological therapy: a quantitative comparative incision study
Introduction. Previous studies suggest that one of the possible reasons of depression is the autoimmune inflammation that causes increased interleukin and cytokines levels and thus affects the mood and well-being.
Aims. To compare depression and anxiety symptoms between the patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor (adalimumab, infliximab) and the patients receiving different medical treatment.
Methods. Quantitative cross-sectional study design was used. Instruments: Ulcerative colitis activity index, Crohn’s disease activity index, the subscale of neurovegetative depression symptoms of the Beck depression inventory, and Hospital anxiety and depression scale. Patients diagnosed with active ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease and not using antidepressants were included in the study. Participants were divided into an experimental group (receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors) and control group (receiving treatment with other drugs).
Results. 46 patients’ data were analysed. The disease activity index was not significantly different between the experimental group and the control group (Crohn’s disease 3.54 vs 4.20; ulcerative colitis 5.70 vs 5.00; p>0.05). The mean scores of neurovegetative depression symptoms subscale of the Beck depression inventory were not significantly different (2.52 experimental vs 3.91 control; p>0.05) between both groups. The mean score of the Hospital anxiety and depression scale were significantly different between both groups (5.22 vs 8.13; p<0.05), which indicates less depressive symptoms in the experimental group. The mean anxiety subscale scores were not significantly different (3.78 vs 5.48; p>0.05), while the mean depressive subscale score was significantly different in the control group (1.43 vs 2.65; p<0.05).
Conclusions. Participants treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor experienced fewer depression symptoms than participants showing similar disease activity, but receiving different medical treatment. Depressive symptoms were affected more than anxiety symptoms in the group of inflammatory bowel disease patients.