Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) requires life-long disease management. This study aimed to investigate the disease burden and unmet medical needs in UC patients in Greece. Methods: Between October 2023 and January 2024, adult UC patients who were members of the Hellenic Society of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Patients (HELLESCC) completed a structured self-reported questionnaire. The survey questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, smoking habits, history of comorbidities, disease activity, disease characteristics, medications, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs; Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire [SIBDQ], Work Productivity and Activity Impairment [WPAI], Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9], treatment satisfaction, and treatment adherence). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify associated factors. Results: Datasets were obtained from 181 UC patients, of whom 48% were on advanced therapies (biological/small-molecule agents) and 54% had active disease. Around 74% reported impaired quality of life (QoL) (SIBDQ < 60), 25% work productivity loss, and 29% daily activity impairment. About 40% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). Reduced adherence and treatment dissatisfaction were reported by approximately one-third of patients. Female gender and disease activity were associated with moderately to severely impaired QoL, work productivity, and mental health. Interestingly, three out of four patients receiving advanced therapy reported moderately to severely impaired QoL and had increased odds of experiencing moderate to severe depression. Conclusions: The disease burden remains very high in UC, characterized by poor QoL and increased work impairment, depression, and disease activity among Greek patients. Marked treatment dissatisfaction and non-adherence were observed in approximately one-third of patients.

Background/Objectives: Diet and mental health constitute two significant modifiable factors affecting Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The present exploratory study explores potential interrelationships between mental health and eating patterns in IBD patients in Greece. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was followed. Two hundred and eighty-three individuals living with IBD in Greece (n = 110 UC, n = 173 CD) participated in an online questionnaire survey examining demographic characteristics, anxiety, depression, and dietary attitudes. Fourteen semi-structured interviews explored the lived experiences of diet, mental health, and disease among IBD patients. Results: Quantitative study revealed that 45.77% of patients scored above the clinical cutoff for anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) and 48.37% for depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10). Patients with UC exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety (54.5% vs. 37.0%, p = 0.004) and depression (54.5% vs. 42.2%, p = 0.042) compared to CD. Disordered eating attitudes were present in 27.22% of the total sample, with no significant differences between diagnostic groups (p = 0.985). Thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes, namely (a) ‘life in two phases: IBD impact on health’, (b) ‘mental health and diet interplay—their perceived impact on IBD’ and (c) ‘coping strategies for managing IBD’. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the dynamic interplay among diet, mental health, and IBD experience. The study underscores the importance of developing holistic biopsychosocial interventions integrating medical, dietary, and psychological components for IBD management.