Online assisted psychological therapy for targeted populations with inflammatory bowel disease.
Year: 2019
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition affecting over \n300,000 people in the UK. Despite a high level of comorbid mental disorders, most \npatients do not receive psychological help. As a result of scarce healthcare resources in \nIBD, technology is increasingly being recognised as a useful tool to manage anxiety and \ndepression associated with IBD. However, there is no online psychotherapy \nprogramme for patients with IBD and comorbid anxiety and/or depression available in \nthe UK. \nAim: The aim of this thesis was to develop a prototype online psychological \nintervention for patients with IBD and comorbid anxiety and/or depression. \nMethods: The development of the prototype followed the Medical Research Council \n(MRC) framework for complex interventions (the development phase). Firstly, \ntheoretical evidence on the effectiveness of online psychological therapy in \ngastrointestinal diseases was gathered in a systematic review. Secondly, a qualitative \nstudy investigated patients' with IBD and comorbid anxiety and/or depression and \ntheir service providers' views about lived experiences with IBD and about an online \npsychological intervention. Finally, the recommendation for the online psychological \nintervention for this population was provided. \nResults: The evidence on the usefulness of online psychological interventions in \ngastroenterology, and IBD specifically, is scarce. There is a need for more robust trials \nof psychotherapy in IBD, particularly in patients with IBD and anxiety and/or \ndepression. Patients had positive attitude towards online psychological intervention, \nwhile health professionals were unsure about patients' participation in the \nintervention. Based on the theoretical evidence and the qualitative study findings the \nrecommendations for the future interventions were developed. \nConclusions: This PhD project demonstrated the need for an online psychological \nintervention for patients with IBD and comorbid anxiety and/or depression. The \nintervention based on the prototype could be tested in a future trial. The productive \ncollaborations between patients, stakeholders and researchers in co-designing of an \nonline psychological intervention are essential during the development, evaluation and \nimplementation of the intervention.
Author: Inna Hanlon
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3180145939