Clinical factors associated with illness perception, worry and mental health in sclerosing cholangitis: A single centre prospective study

Background: A reduced quality of life and symptoms of depression and anxiety are reported in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), however specific risk factors and the effect of sclerosing cholangitis (SC) with autoimmune features are not known.Objective: To integrate mental wellbeing assessment into routine clinical care for patients with SC, and evaluate factors associated with measures relating to quality of life, illness perception and mental health. Methods: A prospective study of adult non-transplant patients with SC attending the outpatient clinic over a 1 year period. Self-reported questionnaires were sent to patients electronically prior to clinic to assess worry, illness perception, depression and anxiety. Demographic and clinical information was collected.Results: Questionnaires were completed in 52/130 (40 %) patients with SC who attended clinic. Worry related to quality of life, mental and physical health, and future health were common. There was no difference in overall worry or illness perception in patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid; whilst patients with PSC had a higher illness perception (P = 0.04) than those with SC and autoimmune features. Both worry (P = 0.047) and illness perception (P = 0.01) were higher in patients with elevated alkaline phosphatase, whilst there was no difference in patients with and without cirrhosis. There were high screening test scores for both depression (21.1 %) and anxiety (9.6 %), with no association with patient factors. Conclusions: We integrated an electronic questionnaire for completion prior to clinic for patients with SC with good uptake. We identified a high prevalence of patient worries and symptoms of depression and anxiety, which may be more common in PSC with elevated alkaline phosphatase and without autoimmune features. We recommend the adoption of similar tools into routine clinical practice for patients with SC.