ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews all the different diagnostic procedures that patients might undergo to get an initial diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and during routine follow-ups to determine disease progression and the efficacy of any treatment regimens. Diagnostic procedures include routine blood and stool tests; the fecal calprotectin test, which is sensitive and specific to IBD; colonoscopies; imaging tests, including CT scans, magnetic resonance enterography, capsule endoscopy, and intestinal ultrasound. The chapter details the advantages and disadvantages of each type of test and what the procedure entails for patients. The chapter concludes with a brief summary noting the important role psychotherapists can play in helping patients understand, prepare for, and think through the costs and benefits of each type of test.
