Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children and Adolescents - a Survey Among Paediatricians

Overview

Journal Psychosoc Med

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2011 Apr 7

PMID 21468324

Citations 6

Authors

Angelika A Schlarb

Marco D Gulewitsch

Inga Bock Genannt Kasten

Paul Enck

Martin Hautzinger

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Little is known about prevalence and usual treatment of childhood and adolescent recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in outpatient paediatricians' practice. This study's primary objective was to acquire insights into the usual paediatricians' treatment and their estimation of prevalence, age and gender of RAP patients. Further objectives were to assess to which extent family members of patients report similar symptoms, how paediatricians rate the strain of parents of affected children and adolescents and how paediatricians estimate the demand for psychological support.

Methods: Provided by a medical register, 437 outpatient paediatricians received a questionnaire to assess their perception of several psychosomatic problems and disorders including recurrent abdominal pain.

Results: According to paediatricians' estimation, 15% of all visits are caused by patients with RAP. In 22% of these cases of RAP, at least one family member has similar problems. In about 15% of all RAP cases, parents ask for professional psychological support concerning their children's issues, whereas 40% of paediatricians wish for psychological support considering this group of patients.

Conclusions: Estimated frequencies and paediatricians' demands show the need for evidence-based psychological interventions in RAP to support usual medical treatment.

Citing Articles

Healthcare Professionals' Knowledge about Pediatric Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review.

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Functional abdominal pain in adolescents: case-based management.

Yacob D, Kroon Van Diest A, Di Lorenzo C Frontline Gastroenterol. 2021; 12(7):629-635.

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Psychological aspects of Recurrent Abdominal Pain Syndrome in children.

Moayedi A, Moayedi F J Med Life. 2017; 8(Spec Iss 4):56-59.

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Brief hypnotherapeutic-behavioral intervention for functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome in childhood: a randomized controlled trial.

Gulewitsch M, Muller J, Hautzinger M, Schlarb A Eur J Pediatr. 2013; 172(8):1043-51.

PMID: 23568514 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-013-1990-y.

[Therapy of functional abdominal pain in childhood. Concept, acceptance and preliminary results of a short hypnotherapeutic-behavioural intervention].

Gulewitsch M, Schauer J, Hautzinger M, Schlarb A Schmerz. 2012; 26(2):160-7.

PMID: 22527645 DOI: 10.1007/s00482-011-1139-8.

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