Effect of psychotherapy on the course of Crohn's disease - Results of the German prospective multicenter psychotherapy treatment study on Crohn's disease

Background: Our aim was to study the influence of psychotherapy in addition to a standardized corticosteroid treatment on the somatic and psychosocial course of Crohn's disease. Methods: In a prospective, randomized multicent er study 108 of 488 patients received either drug treatment or, in the inte rvention group, additionally psychotherapy in the first half of the 2-year follow-up period. Results: Eighty-four patients (77.8%) completed the somat ic and 81 (75%) the psychosocial follow-up. Twenty-three per cent of the co ntrol group and 30% of the psychotherapy group showed episode-free courses; 29% and 17%, respectively, underwent surgery due to failure of drug treatm ent. The main analysis, which was based on subranking by number, duration, and severity of relapses, failed to show significant differences between th e two groups (P = 0.125). The same result was obtained for the psychosocial status after 1 year in the main target criteria depression, anxiety, psych osocio-communicative status, and quality of life. Conclusions: The confirma tory analysis did not prove significantly better courses after additional p sychotherapy. There was a tendency towards fewer operations.