Assessing Psychosocial Functioning Among Youth With Newly Diagnosed Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): An Interdisciplinary Clinic Approach

Abstract

An integrated approach to healthcare brings together professionals from various disciplines and establishes comprehensive treatment plans that address the biological, psychological, and social needs of a patient. Youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at risk of psychosocial difficulties and often need psychosocial support near the time of diagnosis in addition to traditional medical support. The need for a biopsychosocial approach to healthcare that emphasizes health promotion among youth with IBD is thus quite great. The purpose of this article is to describe the New Patient IBD Clinic, a clinic that applies a biopsychosocial model of care to the treatment of youth newly diagnosed with IBD. Psychosocial data obtained from 108 youth ages 8–18, as part of standard clinical care during their visit to the IBD clinic, are described and discussed in the context of a patient’s overall functioning, adjustment, and quality of life. Implications for clinical care and treatment planning and recommendations for developing an integrated care model are also discussed.