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Abstract
The current study involved the development and evaluation of a skills-based, psychological intervention for adolescent females with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and their parents. Thirteen and eleven adolescent females and one parent made up the treatment and control groups respectively, for a total of 24 parent-child dyads. Adolescents and parents attended a one-day intervention which taught disease-related coping skills, pain management, relaxation techniques, communication, and limit setting (parents only). The treatment day was followed by 6 weeks of web-based skill reinforcement including homework assignments and weekly group chat sessions. Results indicated significant changes in the therapeutic direction for adolescent somatic symptoms, adaptive coping strategies, and catastrophizing cognitions from pre- to post-intervention. Implications of these findings, as well as limitations and future directions are discussed. Overall, findings support the use of psychosocial interventions for reducing physical as well as psychological symptoms in adolescents with IBD.