Oscilação do humor em pacientes com doença de Crohn: incidência e fatores associados

Abstract

Objective: To assess the incidence of mood swings (MS) and possible associated factors in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Methods: Prospective longitudinal study of 50 patients (60% females; mean age 40.6 years) with a diagnosis of CD over a 16-month follow-up. Clinical activity was assessed by the CD activity index. Psychological status self-report tools (Beck Depression Inventory and the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depres - sion Scale) were used for mood disorder diagnosis. The tools were applied at baseline and at four-month intervals thereafter. Results: The inflammatory phenotype was the most com - mon (86%); 36% had a previous history of surgery related to CD; 82% were in clinical remis - sion at baseline. MS occurred in 58% of patients; 28% had progression of depression and/or anxiety symptoms from baseline normal mood, and 30% had baseline depressive and/or anxious mood normalized. In 38% of patients with MS, no change in the disease clinical activity could be found (p = 0.015), whereas 20% had a change in CD activity. Fe - male gender and absence of previous surgery related to CD complications were associated with higher MS incidence (p = 0.04 for both). Conclusion: In this study, a high MS inci - dence (58%) was found in patients with CD. Female gender and absence of previous surgery from CD complications were associated with a higher MS incidence. Periodic psychological assessment could be useful to detect and approach MS in patients with CD.