Using Acceptance and Commitment Training to Promote Rehabilitation and Engagement in Values-Centered Living in Veterans Adapting to Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Mental Health Challenges (RECLAIM)
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
Many Veterans with gastrointestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), also have mental health conditions. IBD and mental health conditions can worsen one another through the brain-gut axis, leading to dramatic deficits in psychosocial functioning and quality of life (QOL). Yet, few Veterans with comorbid IBD and mental health conditions receive psychotherapy and no evidence-based psychotherapies have been tested in Veterans with these comorbidities. Adapting brief acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to the specific to the needs of these patients and embedding treatment into routine gastroenterology care may increase Veterans' access to efficient and effective rehabilitative care. This study aims to adapt and test an integrated, 1-Day ACT intervention tailored to the specific needs of Veterans with IBD and mental health conditions to improve psychosocial functioning and QOL.
Description
Nearly 80,000 Veterans have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; IBD). IBD is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract leading to significant pain, elimination difficulties, and functional impairment. Compounding these difficulties, nearly 50% of Veterans with IBD have comorbid depression, anxiety, and/or posttraumatic stress disorder. These comorbid conditions worsen IBD symptoms through the brain-gut axis, and lead to dramatic deficits in quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial functioning. Yet, less than 20% of patients with IBD and m…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of IBD as confirmed by the medical record * Current diagnosis of a depressive, anxiety, or trauma-related disorder Exclusion Criteria: * Severe IBD symptoms that would prevent full participation in the study (i.e., hospitalized in the past 30 days, surgery in the past 30 days) * Significant cognitive impairment * Active suicidality * Uncontrolled psychosis or bipolar disorder
Interventions
- BehavioralAcceptance and Commitment Therapy
Form of cognitive behavioral therapy that focuses on increasing psychological flexibility by fostering acceptance of difficult internal experiences, augmenting engagement in values-aligned behaviors, increasing contact with the present moment, and reducing reliance on avoidant coping.
Location
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TXHouston, Texas