Adverse Childhood Experiences and Disease Activity Are Associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Crohn’s Disease

INTRODUCTION: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease associated with a substantial psychological burden, including post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, PTSS do not develop in all patients, suggesting individual vulnerability factors. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a transdiagnostic risk factor for stress-related psychopathology and may influence psychological responses to chronic disease. We examined whether ACEs moderate the relationship between clinical disease activity and PTSS in patients with CD. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, outpatients with CD completed self-report measures assessing PTSS and ACEs. Clinical disease activity was assessed using the Harvey-Bradshaw Index. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and hierarchical moderated regression analyses. RESULTS: = .034, p = .013), indicating a stronger association between disease activity and PTSS among patients with greater childhood adversity. CONCLUSION: Early-life adversity appears to increase vulnerability to PTSS in the context of active CD. ACE-informed assessments may help identify patients at higher psychological risk and guide trauma-informed clinical care.