Mental health and Crohn's disease: evaluating depression through a case-referent study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the frequency and severity of depressive symptoms between adults diagnosed with Crohn's disease and a demographically matched group of healthy individuals. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory, a validated self-report instrument. DESIGN AND SETTING: The study employed a comparative and exploratory case-control design to evaluate whether patients with Crohn's disease report significantly higher levels of depressive symptomatology than healthy controls. Patients were recruited from various regions in southern Spain. METHODS: A total of 84 participants were included, comprising 42 individuals with Crohn's disease and 42 matched controls. Assessment of depressive symptoms was performed using the Beck Depression Inventory, a validated instrument for quantifying depression severity. As the data did not meet normality assumptions, non-parametric methods were applied for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Crohn's disease patients demonstrated significantly higher depression scores compared to controls (Beck Depression Inventory: 15.55±9.99 vs. 5.76±4.18; p<0.001). The prevalence of depression (Beck Depression Inventory ≥10) was 32.1% in the Crohn's disease group versus 9.5% in the control group. Notably, severe depression was observed exclusively among Crohn's disease patients, highlighting the substantial psychological burden associated with the disease. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the significant psychological burden associated with Crohn's disease, with patients experiencing higher rates and greater severity of depression compared to healthy individuals.