Self-Worth Beliefs Predict Willingness to Engage in Psychotherapy for Fatigue in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is poorly controlled, with few existing interventions. Psychotherapy interventions for IBD fatigue show promise; however, due to mixed findings in efficacy and attrition, current interventions need improvement. Some research shows beliefs about psychotherapy and stigma toward psychotherapy may impact engagement in psychotherapy interventions. Aims: This study aimed to examine the effects of IBD activity, fatigue, mental health status, previous experience with psychotherapy, and stigma toward psychotherapy on willingness to use psychotherapy as a fatigue intervention. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted, and linear regression models were used to examine willingness to engage in psychotherapy for fatigue. Results: Overall, 834 participants completed the survey. Regression analysis examining demographics, mental health status, IBD activity, fatigue, pain, antidepressant use, psychotherapy experience, and self-worth intervention efficacy belief significantly explained 25% of variance in willingness to use psychotherapy for fatigue. Significant factors included antidepressant use (b =.21, p <.01), pain (b = −.05, p <.001), and self-worth intervention belief (b = −.27, p <.001), which uniquely explained 18% of variance in the outcome. Conclusions: Willingness to engage in psychotherapy for fatigue in IBD appears to be driven by expectations related to specific self-worth beliefs, rather than stigma, IBD activity, or any prior experience with psychotherapy. Clinicians should directly address these expectations with their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]