The influence of self‐criticism on depression symptoms among ambulatory patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Considering that self‐criticism is an important process in the development and maintenance of depression, and taking into account the stigma associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the present study aimed to analyse whether self‐criticism exacerbates the relationships of depression symptoms with IBD symptomatology and chronic illness‐related shame. The sample included 53 ambulatory IBD patients (66% females) with ages from 18 to 65. Moderation analyses were conducted using structural equation modelling. Self‐criticism exacerbated the associations of depression with IBD symptoms (b = 0.01; standard error [SE] = 0.00; Z = 3.73; P < .001) and illness shame (b = 0.02; SE = 0.01; Z = 2.40; P = .016). For the same level of IBD symptomatology or chronic illness‐related shame, those individuals who present more feelings of inadequacy towards the self, experience more symptoms of depression. This exacerbation effect is stronger when IBD symptomatology and chronic illness‐related shame are more intense. A high self‐critical IBD patient may view the illness and/or symptomatology as a flaw or error that should be self‐corrected. Physicians and other health professionals should be attentive to these pathological mechanisms and should attempt to alleviate them. It may be beneficial to refer high self‐critical patients to psychological care.