Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ψυχική Υγεία Παιδιών και ΕφήβωνLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Kalavris Alexandros
Supervisors info:
Στυλιανός Χριστογιώργος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ, Επιβλέπων
Γεράσιμος Κολαΐτης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Αθανάσιος Μίχος, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Ιατρική, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Συναισθηματικός δεσμός και Ιδιοπαθείς Φλεγμονώδεις Νόσοι του Εντέρου σε εφήβους
Translated title:
Αttachment and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in adolescents
Summary:
Introduction: Αttachment and induced emotional bond between the infant and the primary caregiver is emerging as a means of understanding of the somatization process. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) have been associated with emotional difficulties and insecure attachment. Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (FGIDs), the most common diagnosis in gastroenterology, have also been linked to mental health problems.
Aim: To investigate the correlation of the insecure attachment type with IBD in adolescents compared to healthy peers and to assess mental health levels, especially emotional difficulties. Also, the differentiation between IBD and the FGIDs is examined in relation to the above.
Method: A sample of 142 adolescents (40 with IBD, 31with FGIDs and 71 healthy subjects) aged 11-17 years and one parent filled out, in addition to measures of demographics, the questionnaire Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Functional Disability Inventory (FDI), the Abdominal Pain Index (API), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Results: Adolescents with IBD did not report significantly higher rates of insecure attachment to mother and father (p=0.629 and p=0.983 respectively) when compared to healthy subjects. Adolescents with FGIDs registered more substantial emotional symptoms compared to those with both IBD and healthy subjects (p=0.010 and p=0.001 respectively). However, parents' self-reports showed that in almost all dimensions of the SDQ, control group showed significantly fewer problems than clinical groups. Adolescents with FGIDs were found to experience severe difficulties, acute pain and reduced functional capacity compared to those with IBD.
Discussion: When it comes to the association of insecure attachment with IBD in adolescence, more studies are required while ensuring appropriate measurement tools. The need for preventive and therapeutic interventions focused on the emotional difficulties of adolescents with IBD and FGIDs and sensitive to attachment disturbances is highlighted.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
IBD, FGIDs, Insecure attachment, Emotional difficulties
