Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Psychological screening for non-specific abdominal pain.

S C Fraser1, K Smith, M Agarwal

  • 1Department of Surgery, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, UK.

The British Journal of Surgery
|December 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Psychological factors are linked to non-specific abdominal pain (NSAP) and its persistence. While psychosocial issues are implicated, current questionnaires lack the accuracy for diagnosing NSAP.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Adjunctive therapy in epilepsy: a cost-effectiveness comparison of two AEDs.

Seizure·1999
Same author

Traumatic rupture of the aortic arch treated by stent grafting.

European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery : the official journal of the European Society for Vascular Surgery·1999
Same author

Characteristics of protein and energy metabolism in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis--a pilot study.

Journal of pediatric surgery·1999
Same author

Children's Defense Fund focuses Congress on child care: both sides of the aisle submit proposals.

Pediatric nursing·1999
Same author

Electrophysiological evidence of cortical fusion in children with early-onset esotropia.

Investigative ophthalmology & visual science·1999
Same author

Adenosine and pediatric supraventricular tachycardia in the emergency department: multicenter study and review.

Annals of emergency medicine·1999

Area of Science:

  • Psychosomatic Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Psychology

Background:

  • Non-specific abdominal pain (NSAP) is a common presentation in emergency settings.
  • The potential role of psychological factors in NSAP and its long-term prognosis requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the association between psychological components and the prediction of outcomes in patients with acute abdominal pain.
  • To determine if psychosocial factors influence the development and persistence of NSAP.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 131 patients (aged 14-40) presenting with acute abdominal pain were evaluated.
  • Psychological assessment included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale.
  • Patients were followed for 2 years to assess pain persistence and associated psychological factors.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Patients with NSAP were more likely to have identified psychosocial problems and higher questionnaire scores.
  • High questionnaire scores combined with interview abnormalities or prolonged prodromal pain (>7 days) increased the risk of NSAP.
  • Persistent pain after 2 years was associated with higher HAD and Spielberger Anxiety Trait scores, and with NSAP.

Conclusions:

  • Psychosocial factors play a significant role in both non-specific abdominal pain and the development of chronic pain.
  • While psychological assessments indicate an association, their current sensitivity and specificity are insufficient for diagnostic utility in NSAP.