Differential relationships of somatization, depression, and anxiety to severity of Crohn's disease. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Regev, Shirley; Odes, Shmuel; Slonim-Nevo, Vered; Friger, Michael; Schwartz, Doron; Sergienko, Ruslan; Eliakim, Rami; Sarid, Orly
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 26:Number 13(2021)
• Page Start: 2390
• Page End: 2401
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: chronic illness -- distress -- gender -- inflammatory bowel diseases -- somatization; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105320909879
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Patients with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, struggle with chronic somatic symptoms that could bring about emotional distress. This study assessed the relative role of somatization, and depressive and anxiety symptoms in disease activity among 619 Crohn's patients (18–79 years; 58.3% women). Structural equation modeling revealed that somatization was the only unique predictor of disease activity beyond depression and anxiety. In addition, the effect of somatization on disease activity was stronger in men compared to women. Findings suggest that somatization represents a distinct domain of psychological distress that may play a role in the health of patients with Crohn's disease.