Third-wave therapies in inflammatory bowel disease: the outline therapy to reduce psychological stress, anxiety and depression in IBD adult patients

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic immune-
mediated disorders affecting the gastrointestinal
tract, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the bidirectional
relationship between psychological disorders and IBD.
However, although very useful, psychological assessment
and psychotherapeutic intervention by specialized
psychologists are not always performed in these
patients.
Psychological treatments used with IBD patients include
a wide spectrum of different interventions, such
as psychodynamic therapies, cognitive-behavioral approaches,
and third-wave therapies, with the aim of
modifying the course of disease of affected patients,
improving their quality of life, and reducing symptoms
of anxiety and depression.
Third-wave therapies, such as Mindfulness-based intervention
and Acceptance Commitment Therapy, are
new forms of psychotherapy, which, based on scientific
evidence, have been widely demonstrated to be effective
in IBD patients. This narrative review provides an
overview of the current state of the art regarding the
use of third-wave therapies in the management of adult
IBD patients, suggesting that they may represent a therapeutic
option for the management of psychological
stress, anxiety, and depression in these patients.