Objective: Supportive-expressive (SE) group psychotherapy is designed to be
applicable to medically ill populations. In this open trial, SE therapy wa
s adapted for use in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Method: Thirty subjects with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative, colitis (U
C) were enrolled in 4 psychotherapy groups. Each group met weekly for 20 we
eks to discuss emotional and interpersonal issues associated with illness.
Physical and psychological variables were measured at the onset and at the
finish of the group sessions.
Results: There was no mean group change in quality of life (QL), anxiety, o
r depression over the course of treatment, although there was a mean group
reduction in maladaptive coping.
Conclusion: Although the trial was uncontrolled and the sample size small,
which limits interpretation, the results are consistent with an ineffective
intervention. Because a null result would be consistent with previously re
ported psychotherapeutic trials in cases of IBD, and because SE therapy has
been effective in treating other medically ill populations, we discuss cha
racteristics of IBD that may account for a relative resistance to psychothe
rapeutic support.