Personality and fatigue perception in a sample of IBD outpatients in remission: A preliminary study

Abstract: Background and aims: Fatigue is considered as a feature of IBD. Nevertheless, medical variables would partly explain this complex phenomenon. Psychological variables would be especially connected to fatigue for patients in remission. Moreover, personality is known to be linked to the fatigue of patients with CFS. This preliminary study aimed to determine if personality dimensions are linked to the perception of fatigue in IBD. Methods: 81 IBD outpatients in remission completed the MFI (fatigue); ISI, EES (sleep disturbances); TCI-R (personality); HADS (depression and anxiety). Medical data were collected (ferritin, C-reactive protein, number of flare-ups, number of hospitalizations, duration of the disease and surgical sequelae). Results: With the exception of surgical sequelae, none of the medical variables was linked to fatigue perception. Anxiety and sleep disturbances were the most continuously connected to fatigue perception. Significant relationships were observed between personality categorization on Persistence, Self-Directness and the level of fatigue. Conclusion: In order to improve vitality in IBD patients in remission, identification and treatment of psychological aspects should become a dimension of disease management. Fatigue should not be considered only as a direct feature of IBD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]