Welcome to the Center for Psychosocial Research in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

We are located in downtown Chicago Illinois within the Northwestern Memorial Hospital campus, specializing in the psychosoical aspects of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Our primary mission is to help patients with IBD learn self-management skills to obtain better diseasecontrol and quality of life. Research in the psychosocial aspects of IBD is critical to understanding the etiology, the maintaining factors and the course of the disease.  By participating in research,you are contributing to the advancement of science and helping others just like yourself cope with their disease. You may even help yourself in the process!
 
More than 75% of patients and their doctors believe that stress affects IBD. Stress weakens the immune system, increases gastrointestinal symptoms and negatively affects health and well-being. For these reasons, people with IBDs must be proactive when it comes to managing stress. Our center provides a variety of stress management services, including gut-directed hypnotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy and relaxation training.

You probably also know that taking good care of yourself when you are in remission is an equally important aspect of managing IBD. When we are sick, most of us will take our medication exactly as directed, get lots of rest and relaxation and watch our diets in order to be healthy again. Once we feel better, at least 70% of us cut back on these behaviors and go about our busy lives. Our center focuses on behavioral strategies that they can be used during remission to reduce the risk for relapse.

If you or someone you know has IBD, we would be honored if you’d consider joining the Center for Psychosocial Research in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) at Northwestern.

There is no charge—we invite only your participation in our ongoing research.  Please do not hesitate to contact us at 312.695.5620 or at ibdpsych@northwestern.edu.

Healthy wishes from myself and my staff,

Laurie Keefer, PhD
Licensed Clinical Health Psychologist
Director, Center for Psychosocial Research in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

Hypnotherapy May Help People with Ulcerative Colitis