Ulcerative Colitis Symptomatology and Depression: The Exacerbator Role of Maladaptive Psychological Processes

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Several studies have indicated that depressive symptomatology plays a pertinent role in the clinical recurrences of ulcerative colitis (UC). Due to the self-perpetuating cycle between UC symptomatology and depressive mood, it is considered that more investment should be given to the study of factors that influence depressive symptomatology in UC patients. AIMS: This study aimed therefore at analyzing the exacerbator effect of maladaptive psychological strategies, such as cognitive fusion and brooding, on the relationship between UC symptomatology and depressive symptoms. METHODS: The sample of the current study included 84 Portuguese patients with UC that completed an Internet-based survey (comprising demographic and medical questions, and self-report measures of depression, cognitive fusion, and brooding). RESULTS: Results showed that UC symptomatology explained 21% of depression severity's variance. In addition, a significant interaction between UC symptomatology and cognitive fusion was found and explained 50% of depressive symptoms' severity. A similar interaction was revealed between UC symptomatology and brooding, which accounted for 42% of depression's variance. These findings demonstrated that, for the same level of UC symptomatology, those participants who revealed more cognitive fusion or more brooding presented significant higher levels of depression. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed cognitive fusion and brooding as moderators that exacerbate the impact of UC symptomatology on reported levels of depression. Psychological interventions that focus on the promotion of adaptive emotion regulation strategies to deal with adverse and stressful events should therefore be developed and implemented in UC patients' health care.