Purpose: There is an urgent need to address mental health comorbidities in youth with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)4.
One prevalent and burdensome mental health comorbidity in IBD is Medical Traumatic Stress (MTS), which occurs in
about a third of patients. MTS is defined as post traumatic stress symptoms resulting from stressful and potentially
traumatic illness-related experiences such as unpredictable hospitalizations and invasive procedures. These
symptoms can include a broad range of psychological responses such as flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks,
avoidance of medical visits, and more. It is suggested that MTS has a profound impact on health and quality of life
in IBD and other populations. In IBD, MTS has been associated with increased healthcare utilization, worse
symptoms and increased disease activity. Despite the knowledge that MTS is prevalent and impactful in youth
with IBD, MTS interventions are not a routine part of clinical practice. Addressing this gap is a critical potential
pathway to improve outcomes for youth with IBD.
Specific Aims:
Aim 1: Assess the association of patient characteristics with vulnerability to adverse health outcomes from MTS.
Aim 2: Understand barriers and facilitators to the implementation of MTS screening and referral for youth in pediatric
IBD clinics.
Aim 3: Develop and pilot a package of implementation strategies for an MTS screening and referral intervention
targeting youth in pediatric IBD clinics.
Contact: Addison Cuneo