Stability of Emotional and Behavioral Functioning in Youth with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This study prospectively examined stability of psychological and behavioral functioning in two matched cohorts of youth with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): (1) newly diagnosed and (2) previously diagnosed patients. Youth and their parents completed measures of emotional and behavioral functioning at Time 1 and 6 months later. Mean-level analyses indicated that scores at Time 1 and Time 2 were within the nonclinical range. A significant decrease occurred in internalizing symptoms for previously diagnosed patients. Both groups demonstrated high levels of profile stability with no significant differences across groups. Results suggest that emotional and behavioral functioning is generally stable without targeted intervention.