# Anxiety and depression in newly diagnosed patients with inflammatory bowel disease (the IBSEN III study) compared with the general population in Norway

## TL;DR

Newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease patients in Norway have higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to the general population.

## Contribution

This study compares anxiety and depression rates in newly diagnosed IBD patients with the general Norwegian population and identifies associated factors.

## Key findings

- 37.4% of Crohn’s disease patients and 32.1% of ulcerative colitis patients had anxiety, significantly higher than the general population.
- Anxiety and depression were more prevalent in males with Crohn’s disease compared to the general population.
- Fatigue and low self-efficacy were strongly linked to anxiety and depression in IBD patients.

## Abstract

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are common in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); the aim of this study was to assess the proportion of anxiety and depression in patients newly diagnosed with IBD, compare the rates with the Norwegian general population (NGP), and examine associations with selected sociodemographic, psychological, and disease-related factors.

This prospective cohort study included newly diagnosed patients with IBD, and data from the HUNT4 survey of the NGP. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Crude statistical comparisons were performed using t-tests, Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square tests, or Fisher’s exact tests. Adjusted associations were modeled using multiple robust linear regression and multiple logistic regression.

In total, 938/1562 (62.1%) patients with IBD completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Crohn’s disease [CD]: n = 297, ulcerative colitis [UC]: n = 641). The proportion of anxiety was 37.4% in CD and 32.1% in UC, while depression was reported by 21.9% and 16.8%, respectively. Both rates were significantly higher than those observed in the NGP (17.5% for anxiety and 9.4% for depression). Compared with the NGP, males with CD had significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression, males with UC had elevated anxiety only, while females with CD and UC showed increased anxiety and depression. Both substantial fatigue and general self-efficacy were significantly associated with anxiety and depression in IBD.

Newly diagnosed patients with IBD experienced significant psychological challenges compared with the NGP. Early identification of anxiety and depression may enable targeted interventions.