Psychological “risks” of Colonoscopy Are Greater Amongst Fecal Immunohistochemical Test Positive Individuals Than Those With Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Psychological “risks” of Colonoscopy Are Greater Amongst Fecal Immunohistochemical Test Positive Individuals Than Those With Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Open Access Pub

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening by Fecal Immunohistochemical Testing (FIT) followed by colonoscopy reduces colorectal cancer mortality. Barriers to colonoscopy should be minimised. Objective: To compare psychological “risks” of colonoscopy in FIT positive (FIT+) subjects and those with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Method: IBD patients undergoing colonoscopic CRC surveillance were age and gender matched with FIT+ individuals awaiting colonoscopy. Subjects completed Spielberger State and Trait Scales for current levels of anxiety, depression, anger and curiosity, versus long term personality tendencies. Results: 70 IBD respondents were matched with 70 FIT+ respondents, (57% male, mean age 57.6 years). FIT+ subjects demonstrated greater scores for state Anxiety (22.3 vs 20.3 p=0.024), Curiosity (24.3 vs 21.8 p=0.036), Anger (13.7 vs11.5 p=0.037) and Depression (23.8 vs21.2 p=0.002). Conclusion: FIT+ patients experience more anxiety and depression prior to their colonoscopy than IBD patients, which may reduce colonoscopy uptake and is important to address. Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening by Fecal Immunohistochemical Testing (FIT) followed by colonoscopy reduces colorectal cancer mortality. Barriers to colonoscopy should be minimised. To compare psychological “risks” of colonoscopy in FIT positive (FIT+) subjects and those with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). IBD patients undergoing colonoscopic CRC surveillance were age and gender matched with FIT+ individuals awaiting colonoscopy. Subjects completed Spielberger State and Trait Scales for current levels of anxiety, depression, anger and curiosity, versus long term personality tendencies. 70 IBD respondents were matched with 70 FIT+ respondents, (57% male, mean age 57.6 years). FIT+ subjects demonstrated greater scores for state Anxiety (22.3 vs 20.3 p=0.024), Curiosity (24.3 vs 21.8 p=0.036), Anger (13.7 vs11.5 p=0.037) and Depression (23.8 vs21.2 p=0.002). FIT+ patients experience more anxiety and depression prior to their colonoscopy than IBD patients, which may reduce colonoscopy uptake and is important to address. DOI10.14302/issn.2471-7061.jcrc-14-426 Colonoscopy for the early detection of Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is commonly practised in the setting of long standing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)1, 2, 3as well as in individuals returning a positive Fecal Immunohistochemical Test (FIT+)4. Whilst surveillance colonoscopy has yet to demonstrate convincing CRC mortality reduction amongst IBD patients1 a mortality benefit has been shown favouring colonoscopic screening in FIT+