Scientific Abstract

Proposal No. IBD-0217
Principal Investigator:  Henrik Toft Sørensen, Ph.D., Dr.Med.Sc.
Applicant Organization:  Aarhus University (Denmark)
Project Title:  The association between inflammatory bowel disease and completed suicide in the adult population of Denmark
Period of Award:  January 1, 2008 – February 28, 2009

Despite evidence from research studies of associations between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psychiatric illness, and suicide mortality, these associations are still not fully understood and considered by some to be controversial.  In a recent literature review, Mikocka-Walus and colleagues (2007) noted that “improvements in clinical care derived from integrating the psychological and physical aspects of IBD are often omitted from standard treatment models” and further, findings from studies of these associations do not often influence clinical practice. Additionally, the authors note that much of the controversy surrounding the role of mental illness in the etiology of IBD is likely due to the paucity of prospective research data in this area.  The present study aims to: (1) explore the prevalence of depression, anxiety disorders, other psychosis and suicide attempts (as defined by ICD codes) among people with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) who commit suicide, compared to the prevalence among those who do not commit suicide; (2) examine the association between UC and suicide; and (3) examine the association between CD and suicide. The study will use a prospective case-control design, and the sample will consist of all completed suicides in Denmark from 1981-2001 with 20 controls selected per case.  Data for the study will come from the Danish Health Registries.

The present study is innovative in that completed suicide among those with IBD has yet to be studied, and the large sample allows investigation of a rare outcome — suicide — among people with a relatively rare illness.  Additionally, this study could improve the treatment of those living with IBD in the next several years by highlighting the need for interventions and treatments that target mental illness and suicidal behavior among people with IBD.