J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.?2023 Jun 1;76(6):e83-e87.?doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003751.Epub 2023 Feb 22. 

Michele H Maddux?1,?Megan Drovetta?2,?Laura M Mackner?3,?Jill Plevinsky?4,?Brandi N Whitaker?5 

Author information

1From the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Children's Mercy-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. 

2the School of Social Welfare, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. 

3The Ohio State University Center for Biobehavioral Health, Division of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. 

4the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. 

5the Department of Pediatrics Psychology Section, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR. 

Abstract

Background:?Little is known about depression screening practices in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care. This study summarizes depression screening within IBD centers in the ImproveCareNow Collaborative Network. 

Methods:?Pediatric IBD providers across 79 IBD centers completed an online survey on current practices surrounding depression screening. 

Results:?Half of centers report doing annual depression screening, largely for patients 12-14 years. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is most often used. For positive depression screens, most centers refer for evidence-based psychotherapy and/or a psychosocial provider meets with the patient during that visit. Suicidal ideation is addressed by calling a psychosocial provider to clinic or sending a patient to the emergency department. Barriers to routine screening include lack of personnel/resources, billing, and lack of clinic time. 

Conclusions:?Pediatric IBD centers conducting depression screening provide targeted intervention based on screening and include psychosocial providers in the process. Greater understanding of screening efforts can inform future clinical efforts.