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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2007; 13(3): 438-443
Published online Jan 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i3.438
Depression and anxiety levels in therapy-naïve patients with inflammatory bowel disease and cancer of the colon
Branislav R Filipović, Branka F Filipović, Mirko Kerkez, Nikola Milinić, Tomislav Ranđelović
Branislav R Filipović, Institute of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
Branka F Filipović, Nikola Milinić, Clinical and Hospital Center “Bežanijska Kosa”, Department of Gastroenterology, Belgrade, Serbia
Mirko Kerkez, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Serbia
Tomislav Ranđelović, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical and Hospital Center “Bežanijska Kosa”, Belgrade, Serbia
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Branislav Filipović, MD, DSc, Institute of Anatomy, School of Medicine, 4/2 Dr Subotića, Belgrade 11000, Serbia. filipbr@bitsyu.net
Telephone: +38-11-2685846 Fax: +38-11-2686172
Received: October 15, 2006
Revised: July 25, 2006
Accepted: December 7, 2006
Published online: January 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To assess whether depression and anxiety are more expressed in patients with the first episode of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than in individuals with newly discovered cancer of the colon (CCa).

METHODS: A total of 32 patients with IBD including 13 males and 19 females, aged 27 to 74, and 30 patients with CCa including 20 males and 10 females, aged 39-78, underwent a structured interview, which comprised Hamilton’s Depression Rating Inventory, Hamilton’s Anxiety Rating Inventory and Paykel’s Stressful Events Rating Scale.

RESULTS: Patients of the IBD group expressed both depression and anxiety. Depressive mood, sense of guilt, psychomotor retardation and somatic anxiety were also more pronounced in IBD patients. The discriminant function analysis revealed the total depressive score was of high importance for the classification of a newly diagnosed patient into one of the groups.

CONCLUSION: Newly diagnosed patients with IBD have higher levels of depression and anxiety. Moreover, a psychiatrist in the treatment team is advisable from the beginning.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; Ulcerative colitis; Colon cancer; Mood disorder