Background: Pediatric patients with intestinal failure are at risk for psychopathology, yet the role of psychology in their care has not been widely discussed.
Case report: In this case report, a psychologist embedded within an intestinal rehabilitation program completed psychological assessments and provided intervention for three patients during an inpatient hospitalization. In each case, despite concepts having been discussed among the patient, family, and medical team, factors discovered during psychological assessment and intervention directly altered the medical treatment plan.
Conclusion: Given the high level of medical involvement intestinal rehabilitation patients receive over years, there are many ways in which psychological intervention can augment medical care. This case series demonstrates the benefit of a psychologist embedded within an intestinal rehabilitation team beyond a traditional consultation or co-located outpatient referral model to improve patient outcomes from both psychological and medical perspectives.
Keywords: Intestinal failure; Intestinal rehabilitation; Mental health; Psychology; Short bowel syndrome.
© 2025 The Authors.