Review: Psychosocial issues in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

Objective To review and critically evaluate research on psychosocial issues in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to provide recommendations for future research. Methods A literature search was conducted using the Medline and PsychInfo computerized databases as well as the bibliographies of relevant articles. Results Most of the existing research has compared children with IBD to healthy populations and other illness populations. Compared to healthy children, children with IBD may be at greater risk for difficulties in behavioral and emotional functioning as well as in family and parent functioning, but all such functioning appears similar to that found in other illness populations. It is unclear if the increased risk reaches clinical significance and what role the severity of the disease plays in adjustment. Conclusions Future research should use a developmental perspective to investigate the process of adaptation to IBD, risk factors of poor adjustment, and the role of psychosocial factors in health outcomes in pediatric IBD.